die  Verhältnismäßigkeit

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈhɛlt.nɪsˌmɛːsɪçkaɪt/

⚖️ What does "die Verhältnismäßigkeit" mean?

Die Verhältnismäßigkeit is a key concept, mostly used in legal and ethical contexts. It describes the principle that an action or measure must be in reasonable proportion to the intended purpose. This means the interference or burden must not be excessive compared to the benefit or goal.

Essentially, it's about balance and appropriateness. An action is verhältnismäßig (proportionate) if it:

• pursues a legitimate aim,
• is suitable for achieving this aim,
• is necessary (there is no less intrusive, equally suitable means), and
• is appropriate (the interference is not out of proportion to the aim).

There is only one article: die Verhältnismäßigkeit. It's an abstract noun and therefore feminine in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar Deep Dive: die Verhältnismäßigkeit

"Verhältnismäßigkeit" is a feminine noun (indicated by the article die and the suffix -keit). As it's an abstract concept, it's almost exclusively used in the singular.

Declension Singular

Example Sentences

1. Das Gericht prüfte die Verhältnismäßigkeit der polizeilichen Maßnahme.
   (The court examined the proportionality of the police measure.)
2. Bei jeder Entscheidung muss die Verhältnismäßigkeit gewahrt bleiben.
   (Proportionality must be maintained in every decision.)
3. Die Frage der Verhältnismäßigkeit ist oft Gegenstand von Debatten.
   (The question of proportionality is often the subject of debates.)
4. Es mangelte an der nötigen Verhältnismäßigkeit zwischen Aufwand und Ertrag.
   (There was a lack of necessary proportionality between effort and result.)

🗣️ How "Verhältnismäßigkeit" is used

The term die Verhältnismäßigkeit is mainly found in formal contexts:

• Law and Administration: Here, it's a fundamental principle (Grundsatz der Verhältnismäßigkeit). State interventions in fundamental rights must always be proportionate. 🏛️
• Ethics and Philosophy: Discussions about just actions or the balancing of goods often refer to proportionality. 🤔
• Everyday Life (rarer, but possible): Sometimes the term is used figuratively to describe a reasonable measure or balance, e.g., when distributing tasks or resources.

Distinction: While Angemessenheit (appropriateness) is often used synonymously, Verhältnismäßigkeit emphasizes the relation between means and end more strongly, especially regarding interventions or burdens. Proportionalität is a direct synonym, often used in international or mathematical contexts.

⚠️ Avoid overusing the term in everyday conversation, as it sounds very formal and specific. For everyday balancing acts, words like Ausgewogenheit (balance) or Maß (measure, moderation) are often more suitable.

🧠 Mnemonics for Verhältnismäßigkeit

Remembering the Article: Nouns ending in -keit are almost always feminine in German. Think of: Die Fähigkeit (the ability), die Heiterkeit (the cheerfulness), die Gerechtigkeit (the justice)... and thus also die Verhältnismäßigkeit. The ending -keit is a feminine trait! 😉

Remembering the Meaning: Think of the word Verhältnis (ratio, relationship). Verhältnismäßigkeit means that the Verhältnis (ratio) between two things (e.g., measure and goal, effort and benefit) must be mäßig (moderate), i.e., balanced and not extreme. Like scales ⚖️ in equilibrium.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms

⚠️ Confusingly Similar Words

• Verhältnis (das): Refers to a relationship, a ratio, or an affair. Verhältnismäßigkeit is derived from it but is a distinct concept.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie dem Opfer mit einem ganzen Laib Brot auf den Kopf geschlagen?"
Antwortet der Angeklagte: "Herr Richter, es tut mir leid. Aber in dem Moment hatte ich nur den ganzen Laib zur Hand – ein einzelnes Brötchen erschien mir nicht verhältnismäßig für meine Wut!"

Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you hit the victim on the head with a whole loaf of bread?"
The defendant replies: "Your Honor, I'm sorry. But at that moment, all I had was the whole loaf – a single bread roll didn't seem proportionate to my anger!"

(Please note: Violence is never the answer, the joke just plays with the term!)

📜 Poem about Proportionality

Im Recht und auch im Leben zählt,
was Sinn ergibt, was nicht entfällt:
Die Verhältnismäßigkeit, so klar,
macht Handeln klug und wunderbar.

Das Mittel muss zum Zwecke passen,
darf nie das rechte Maß verlassen.
Nicht schießen, wenn ein Wort genügt,
so wird die Waage sanft gewiegt.

Translation:
In law and also in life counts,
what makes sense, what never fails:
Proportionality, so clear,
makes actions wise and wonderful.

The means must fit the purpose,
must never leave the right measure.
Don't shoot when a word suffices,
thus the scale is gently balanced.

❓ Know me? A Riddle

Ich bin ein Prinzip, im Recht bekannt,
halte Maß und Ziel fest in der Hand.
Ich sorge dafür, dass nichts übertreibt,
und Ausgewogenheit stets bleibt.
Mein Artikel ist feminin, das ist wahr,
man prüft mich oft, Jahr für Jahr.

Wer bin ich? Lösung: die Verhältnismäßigkeit

Translation:
I am a principle, known in law,
holding measure and goal firmly in hand.
I ensure that nothing exaggerates,
and balance always remains.
My article is feminine, that is true,
I am often checked, year after year.

Who am I?
Solution: die Verhältnismäßigkeit (proportionality)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition

The word "Verhältnismäßigkeit" is composed of:

• Verhältnis: The relation, ratio, proportion.
• -mäßig: A suffix describing a manner or mode (in the sense of "according to a ratio").
• -keit: A suffix that turns an adjective (verhältnismäßig - proportionate) into an abstract noun, usually indicating feminine gender.

Legal Significance

The Grundsatz der Verhältnismäßigkeit (principle of proportionality) is a cornerstone of German (and European) public law. It protects citizens from excessive state interference and is embedded in the German Basic Law (Grundgesetz), even if not explicitly named (it's derived from the rule of law principle and fundamental rights).