die  Verhinderung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈhɪndɐʁʊŋ/

📖 What does "die Verhinderung" mean?

Die Verhinderung (feminine) refers to the act of preventing something or the result of it. It means that something cannot take place or that someone is hindered from doing something.

There are essentially two main nuances:

1. Prevention/Averting: Actively counteracting to stop an unwanted event or action before it occurs (e.g., die Verhinderung eines Unfalls - the prevention of an accident).
2. Absence/Impossibility: The state of being unable to be present or do something due to circumstances (e.g., im Falle meiner Verhinderung - in case of my absence/inability to attend).

The word derives directly from the verb verhindern (to prevent, to hinder). The suffix "-ung" typically signals a feminine noun in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar Spotlight: Die Verhinderung

The noun "Verhinderung" is feminine. The article is "die".

Declension

Nouns ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine. Here is the declension of die Verhinderung:

The plural ("die Verhinderungen") is used infrequently, mostly in specific contexts when referring to multiple concrete instances of prevention or hindrance (e.g., "Es gab mehrere Verhinderungen bei der Terminplanung." - "There were several hindrances/preventions in the scheduling.").

Example Sentences

• Die rechtzeitige Warnung führte zur Verhinderung einer Katastrophe.
  (The timely warning led to the prevention of a catastrophe.)
• Im Falle meiner Verhinderung wird mich mein Kollege vertreten.
  (In case of my inability to attend, my colleague will represent me.)
• Die Polizei arbeitet an der Verhinderung weiterer Einbrüche.
  (The police are working on the prevention of further burglaries.)
• Technische Probleme führten zur Verhinderung des Raketenstarts.
  (Technical problems led to the prevention/hindrance of the rocket launch.)

💡 How to use "die Verhinderung"?

"Die Verhinderung" is often used in formal or official contexts.

• Prevention: Frequently used in contexts of security, law, and planning. People talk about Verhinderung von Straftaten (prevention of crimes), Verhinderung von Krankheiten (prevention of diseases), or Verhinderung von Unfällen (prevention of accidents).
• Absence/Representation: The phrase "im Falle meiner/seiner/Ihrer Verhinderung" (in case of my/his/your inability to attend) is a standard phrase to announce that someone cannot participate and possibly name a substitute. It sounds more formal than, for example, "Wenn ich nicht kann..." (If I can't...).
• Hindrance: Less commonly, it can also be used synonymously with "Hindernis" (obstacle) or "Behinderung" (hindrance) to describe the circumstance that makes something impossible.

Distinction: While die Verhinderung describes the act or state of being prevented, das Hindernis refers more to the concrete object or circumstance that stands in the way.

🧠 Mnemonics for Verhinderung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Think of the English word "ending" sounding a bit like "-ung" - feminine endings use die. So, it's die Verhinderung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of trying to get 'behind' (HINTER) someone to stop them (ver-HINDERN). This act of stopping them is the Verhinderung (prevention).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Hinderung (die): Very similar, often used synonymously, but "Verhinderung" sometimes emphasizes the active process or the formal state more strongly.
• Hindernis (das): Refers more to the concrete object or circumstance that prevents something.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum konnte der Skelett-Manager nicht zur Sitzung kommen?

Im Falle seiner Verhinderung schickte er seinen Stell-Verknöcher! 😉

(Why couldn't the skeleton manager come to the meeting?)

(In case of his inability to attend [Verhinderung], he sent his deputy-ossifier! - A pun on "Stellvertreter" [deputy] and "Verknöcherung" [ossification])

📜 Poem about Prevention

Ein Plan war da, so schön und klar,
Doch kam ein Sturm, es ward nicht wahr.
Ein Anruf schnell, ein Wort gesagt,
Die Reise heut' wird abgesagt.
Die Pflicht, sie ruft, kann nicht entflieh'n,
Die Verhinderung muss gescheh'n.
Ein andermal, so hofft man sehr,
Klappt's besser dann, fällt's nicht so schwer.

(A plan was there, so fine and clear,
But came a storm, it wasn't real [didn't happen].
A quick call, a word was said,
The trip today is cancelled instead.
Duty calls, cannot escape,
The prevention must take shape.
Another time, one hopes so much,
It works out better, not such a crutch.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin der Grund, warum du bleibst,
Obwohl du gern woanders wärst.
Ich sorge oft dafür, dass treibst
Du nicht das, was du grad begehrst.
Manchmal bin ich ein Schutzwall klar,
Manchmal nur eine Abwesenheit.

Was bin ich, sag, ist's sonnenklar?

(I am the reason why you stay,
Although you'd rather be elsewhere.
I often ensure that you don't play
Or do the thing you wish you dare.
Sometimes I am a clear defense wall,
Sometimes just absence takes its toll.

What am I, say, is it clear as day?)

Solution: Die Verhinderung (The prevention/hindrance/inability to attend)

🧩 Further Details

Word Composition

The word "Verhinderung" is a noun derived from the verb "verhindern" (to prevent, to hinder). It follows a common pattern in German:

• ver- (prefix, often intensifying or indicating a change)
• hindern (verb: to hinder, impede, stop)
• -ung (suffix used to form feminine nouns describing a process or state)

Thus, "Verhinderung" literally means the process or state of hindering/stopping.