die
Verlängerung
🕰️ What does "die Verlängerung" mean?
Die Verlängerung (feminine noun) means extension or prolongation. It refers to the act of making something longer, either in time or space, or the result of doing so.
- In time: Postponing a deadline, extending a period, or the extra time in sports. (e.g., Vertragsverlängerung - contract extension, Spielverlängerung - extra time/overtime)
- In space: Adding a part to make something physically longer. (e.g., Haarverlängerung - hair extension, die Verlängerung eines Tisches - the extension of a table)
- Figuratively: Can also mean continuation.
As a noun ending in -ung and derived from a verb (verlängern - to extend), it's typically feminine (die Verlängerung). This is a very common pattern in German. 🚨
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ung → always feminine.
There are many -ung words, we won't list them all. There are only a few exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Declension of Verlängerung
"Die Verlängerung" is a feminine noun. Its declension follows the standard pattern for feminine nouns, especially those ending in -ung. The plural is formed by adding -en.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verlängerung |
| Genitive | der | Verlängerung |
| Dative | der | Verlängerung |
| Accusative | die | Verlängerung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verlängerungen |
| Genitive | der | Verlängerungen |
| Dative | den | Verlängerungen |
| Accusative | die | Verlängerungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Verlängerung des Vertrags wurde genehmigt. (The extension of the contract was approved.)
- Wir warten auf die Bestätigung der Verlängerung. (We are waiting for the confirmation of the extension.)
- Das Team kämpfte in der Verlängerung um den Sieg. (The team fought for victory in extra time.)
- Er beantragte eine Verlängerung der Frist. (He applied for an extension of the deadline.)
- Mehrere Verlängerungen waren nötig, um das Projekt abzuschließen. (Several extensions were necessary to complete the project.)
💡 How to use "die Verlängerung"?
"Verlängerung" is a versatile word used in various contexts:
- Work & Administration: Very common for contracts (Arbeitsvertragsverlängerung - employment contract extension), deadlines (Fristverlängerung - deadline extension), permits (Verlängerung der Aufenthaltserlaubnis - extension of the residence permit).
- Sports: Refers to extra playing time when the score is tied after regular time (die Verlängerung im Fußball - extra time in football/soccer). It's similar to Nachspielzeit (injury time/stoppage time), but Verlängerung usually implies a distinct, fixed period of play.
- Technology & Everyday Life: Physical extensions like Verlängerungskabel (extension cord) or Tischverlängerung (table extension leaf).
- Personal: e.g., Haarverlängerung (hair extension).
Distinction: While Verlängerung mostly implies making something longer in time or length, the word Erweiterung (expansion, enlargement) often refers to an increase in area, scope, or features.
🧠 Mnemonics for Verlängerung
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die). Think of the English ending "-ing" in "extending" - the German equivalent "-ung" signals die. So, die Extendung -> die Verlängerung!
Meaning Mnemonic: Focus on the root "lang" which means "long" in German. Eine Verlängerung makes something longer (longer time, longer contract, longer hair).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Ausdehnung: Expansion, extension (more general).
- Fristverlängerung: Deadline extension (specific).
- Aufschub: Postponement, deferral.
- Verzögerung: Delay (often unwanted).
- Nachspielzeit (Sport): Stoppage time, injury time (usually shorter than Verlängerung).
- Fortsetzung: Continuation.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Verkürzung: Shortening.
- Beendigung: Termination, ending.
- Ablauf: Expiration (of a deadline or validity).
- Streichung: Cancellation, deletion.
Related Word: The verb verlängern means to extend, to lengthen, to prolong.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Zeitmanager eine Verlängerung für sein Mittagessen beantragt?
Er brauchte mehr „Pausen“-Zeit!
(Why did the time manager request an extension for his lunch? He needed more "pause" time! - A pun on Pause meaning break/pause).
📜 Poem about Extension
Die Frist rückt nah, die Zeit verrinnt,
ein Antrag schnell, eh sie beginnt,
die letzte Phase, knapp und kurz.
Man hofft und bangt, ein kleiner Sturz
ins Ungewisse, doch dann die Mail:
Die Verlängerung – zum Glück, zum Heil!
Nun weiter geht's, mit neuem Mut,
die extra Zeit tut wirklich gut.
(The deadline nears, time slips away,
An application quick, before the day,
The final phase begins, short and tight.
One hopes and fears, a little fright
Of the unknown, but then the mail:
The extension – luck, beyond the pale!
Now on we go, with spirit new,
The extra time feels good and true.)
❓ Riddle Time
Ich mache Verträge länger haltbar,
und Spiele spannender, ist doch klar.
Manchmal brauchst du mich für dein Kabel,
manchmal gewährt man mich, ganz variabel.
Was bin ich?
(I make contracts last longer,
And games more exciting, that's clear.
Sometimes you need me for your cable,
Sometimes I'm granted, quite variable.
What am I?)
(... Die Verlängerung / The extension)
🧩 Other Details
Word Formation: The word "Verlängerung" is composed of:
- Prefix "ver-": Often used to indicate a change or process.
- Adjective stem "lang": Meaning "long".
- Suffix "-erung": Forms nouns from verbs (here from "verlängern" - to extend) and often denotes a process or its result. This is a very productive suffix in German for creating feminine nouns.
Common Compound Nouns:
- Vertragsverlängerung (contract extension)
- Fristverlängerung (deadline extension)
- Spielverlängerung (extra time/overtime in sports)
- Verlängerungskabel (extension cord)
- Haarverlängerung (hair extension)
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verlängerung?
The German word "Verlängerung" (extension, prolongation) is feminine. The correct article is die: die Verlängerung. The plural is die Verlängerungen.