die  Verlegung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈleːɡʊŋ/

📌 What exactly does "die Verlegung" mean?

The word die Verlegung is a feminine noun in German and has several meanings, often related to a change of place or time:

• 🚚 Relocation/Transfer: Moving something or someone from one place to another. This can refer to relocating an office (*der Umzug eines Büros*), transferring a patient to another hospital (*die Verlegung eines Patienten*), or redeploying troops (*die Verlegung von Truppen*). Example: Die Verlegung des Firmensitzes nach Berlin ist für nächstes Jahr geplant. (The relocation of the company headquarters to Berlin is planned for next year.)
• 📅 Postponement/Rescheduling: Changing a planned date or event to a later time. Example: Wegen Krankheit des Redners erfolgte die Verlegung des Vortrags. (Due to the speaker's illness, the lecture was postponed.)
• 🛠️ Laying/Installation: The act of laying out or installing things like cables (*Kabel*), pipes (*Rohre*), or flooring (*Bodenbeläge*). Example: Die Verlegung der neuen Glasfaserkabel dauert mehrere Wochen. (The laying of the new fiber optic cables will take several weeks.)
• 📚 Publishing (less common): In the context of publishing houses (*Verlagswesen*), it can also mean the act of publishing, although *Veröffentlichung* or *Herausgabe* are more common. Example: Die Verlegung klassischer Literatur ist ein Schwerpunkt des Verlags. (The publishing of classical literature is a focus of the publishing house.)

🚨 Attention: The context is crucial to understand the correct meaning!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Verlegung" in Detail

"Verlegung" is a feminine noun (identifiable by the "-ung" ending). It is declined accordingly.

📝 Example Sentences

1. (Relocation) Die Verlegung des Patienten auf die Intensivstation war notwendig.
   (The transfer of the patient to the intensive care unit was necessary.)
2. (Postponement) Wir bitten um Verständnis für die kurzfristige Verlegung des Konzerts.
   (We ask for your understanding regarding the short-notice postponement of the concert.)
3. (Installation/Laying) Die fachgerechte Verlegung des Parketts erfordert Erfahrung.
   (The professional laying of the parquet flooring requires experience.)
4. (Publishing) Die Verlegung von Goethes Werken war ein großes Projekt.
   (The publishing of Goethe's works was a major project.)

💡 How to use "die Verlegung"?

The use of "Verlegung" heavily depends on the context:

• In the office/company: Often refers to the Verlegung des Firmensitzes (relocation of the headquarters) or Verlegung einer Abteilung (relocation of a department). Also, the Verlegung eines Meetings (postponement of a meeting) is common.
• In construction/crafts: Used for the Verlegung von Leitungen (laying of lines - power, water, gas), Kabeln (cables - phone, internet), Rohren (pipes), or Bodenbelägen (flooring - parquet, tiles, carpet).
• In healthcare: Refers to the Verlegung eines Patienten (transfer of a patient) to another room, ward, or hospital.
• In transportation: Can mean the Verlegung einer Haltestelle (relocation of a stop) or einer Route (rerouting).
• In publishing: The Verlegung von Büchern (publishing of books), although *Veröffentlichung* or *Herausgabe* are usually more precise here.

Distinction from similar words:

• Umzug: Mostly refers to moving house privately or the complete relocation of a company. *Verlegung* can be more specific (e.g., just one department).
• Verschiebung: Purely emphasizes the temporal aspect of postponement. *Verlegung* can also be temporal, but also spatial or installative.
• Installation: Focuses on the technical fitting. *Verlegung* often describes the process of laying out cables/pipes, which can be part of an *Installation*.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Verlegung"

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Think of a lung - it ends in -ung and you have a pair (like feminine needing 'die'). So, it's die Verlegung.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from "verlegen" (to lay, to move, to publish, to misplace). Imagine:

• You lay something down in a different place (relocation).
• You lay a date down later in the calendar (postponement).
• You lay down cables or tiles (installation).

The prefix "Ver-" emphasizes the change involved.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "die Verlegung"

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Verlag (der): The publishing house/company. Don't confuse with the activity *Verlegung*.
• verlegen (adjective): Embarrassed, shy. Unrelated to the noun. (Ich war verlegen. - I was embarrassed.)
• verlegen (verb): The action leading to *Verlegung* (to relocate, postpone, lay cables, publish books).

😂 A little joke

Chef: "Warum kommen Sie heute erst zur Mittagszeit?"
Mitarbeiter: "Sie haben doch gestern gesagt, ich soll meinen Arbeitsbeginn auf später verlegen!"

Translation:
Boss: "Why are you only coming in at lunchtime today?"
Employee: "But yesterday you said I should postpone (verlegen) my start time until later!"

📜 Poem about Verlegung

Die Leitung, alt und voller Rost,
gab langsam auf den Geist, fast umsonst.
Doch Handwerker kamen, mit Plan und Mut,
zur Verlegung neuer Rohre, das tat gut.
Sie gruben tief, mit Schweiß und Kraft,
bis das Wasser wieder frisch durchs Leitungssystem schafft.
Kein Umzug zwar, doch tief im Grund,
macht die Verlegung alles neu und bunt.

Translation:
The pipe, old and full of rust,
Slowly gave up the ghost, almost for naught.
But craftsmen came, with plan and grit,
For the laying of new pipes, that did the trick.
They dug deep, with sweat and might,
Until fresh water flows through the system right.
No move indeed, but deep in the ground,
The laying makes everything new and sound (lit: colorful).

🧩 Riddle

Ich kann ein Datum ändern, spät statt früh,
ich kann ein Rohr sein, unterm Knie (des Bodens).
Ich schick' den Kranken woanders hin,
und bring' das Büro zu neuem Gewinn (an neuem Ort).

Was bin ich?
... Die Verlegung

Translation:
I can change a date, late instead of early,
I can be a pipe, beneath the knee (of the floor).
I send the patient elsewhere, you see,
And bring the office to new prosperity (in a new place).

What am I?

... Die Verlegung (Relocation/Postponement/Laying)

🌐 Additional Information

Word Formation:

The word "Verlegung" is a verbal noun. It is formed from:

• The prefix ver- (often indicates a change, moving away, or doing something)
• The verb stem of legen (to lay, put, place)
• The suffix -ung (used to form nouns from verbs, the result is feminine)

Historical Context:

The meaning related to publishing comes from the idea that the publisher (*Verleger*) "lays out" (*auslegt* or *vorlegt*) the costs for printing and distribution, i.e., financially "covers" or "advances" them (verlegt).