die  Verleihung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈlaɪʊŋ/

🏆 What Exactly is a Verleihung?

The noun die Verleihung (feminine) primarily has two meanings:

1. The ceremonial presentation of an award or prize: This is the most common meaning. It refers to a ceremony where someone is officially given a prize, medal, title, or similar honor. Often in a festive setting.

   Example: die Oscar-Verleihung (the Academy Awards ceremony), die Verleihung des Bundesverdienstkreuzes (the awarding of the Federal Cross of Merit).

2. The temporary granting or bestowal of something: This can refer to the lending of objects (e.g., books in a library – although 'Ausleihe' is more common here) or the granting of rights or titles.

   Example: die Verleihung von Nutzungsrechten (the granting of usage rights), die Verleihung der Staatsbürgerschaft (the granting of citizenship - rare, 'Vergabe' is more common).

🚨 Important: In everyday language, 'Verleihung' is almost exclusively used for the first meaning (award ceremony). For lending items, 'Ausleihe' (the loan) or 'Verleih' (the rental/lending service) are more common.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📝 Grammar in Detail: die Verleihung

The word 'Verleihung' is a feminine noun. The article is die. It is declined as follows:

💡 Application Examples

• Die Verleihung des Nobelpreises findet jedes Jahr in Stockholm statt.
  (The awarding of the Nobel Prize takes place every year in Stockholm.)
• Wir waren zur Verleihung der Urkunden eingeladen.
  (We were invited to the presentation of the certificates.)
• Die feierliche Verleihung zog viele Schaulustige an.
  (The festive ceremony attracted many onlookers.)
• Die Verleihung von akademischen Titeln erfolgt nach Abschluss des Studiums.
  (The conferment of academic titles occurs after graduation.)

🗣️ How 'Verleihung' is Used

The term die Verleihung is almost always used in the context of honors and awards.

• Typical contexts: Award ceremonies (Preisverleihungen), medal ceremonies (Ordensverleihungen), title conferments (Titelverleihungen), ceremonies, galas.
• Formal vs. Informal: The word belongs more to formal language, especially in official announcements or reports.
• Distinction from 'Ausleihe' and 'Verleih': While 'Verleihung' emphasizes the (often ceremonial) handover, 'die Ausleihe' (the loan/borrowing) or 'der Verleih' (the rental/lending service) typically refer to the temporary provision of items, often for a fee or free of charge (e.g., Buchausleihe - book borrowing, Autoverleih - car rental). 'Verleihung' sounds more official and permanent, even when technically referring to a bestowal (like a title).

One speaks of the Verleihung of a prize, but the Ausleihe of a book.

🧠 Mnemonics for Verleihung

1. Remembering the Article ('die'): Many German nouns ending in -ung are feminine ('die'). Think of related actions: die Ehrung (the honoring), die Auszeichnung (the awarding), die Belohnung (the rewarding) – and thus also die Verleihung. The '-ung' suffix is a strong indicator for 'die'. Like an award ceremony, it's a special 'thing' (often feminine in German for abstract concepts formed with -ung).

2. Remembering the Meaning (Award Ceremony): Imagine a grand VERsion of Lending ('verleihen') – you're not just lending a book, you're 'lending' (giving) honor, a prize. The 'VER-' prefix can sometimes intensify or finalize an action, and the '-UNG' makes it the noun for the event. The Verleihung is the grand event of giving something valuable.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Der Verleih: Often refers to the business of renting (e.g., Skiverleih - ski rental) or the institution (Filmverleih - film distributor). Masculine noun.
• Die Ausleihe: The act of borrowing items, usually from a library or media center. Feminine noun.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Moderator den Gewinner nach der Preisverleihung: "Und, was machen Sie mit dem vielen Geld?" Antwortet der Gewinner: "Erstmal abwarten, ob der Scheck gedeckt ist!"

(The host asks the winner after the award ceremony: "So, what will you do with all the money?" The winner replies: "First, I'll wait and see if the check clears!")

📜 Poem about the Verleihung

Im Saale Glanz, das Licht gedimmt,
Die Spannung steigt, das Herz ergrimmt.
Der Name fällt, Applaus bricht los,
Für dich der Preis, ganz grandios.
Die Verleihung, ein Moment so rein,
Möge die Ehre ewig dein sein!

(In the hall's gleam, the light dimmed,
Tension rises, the heart brimmed.
The name is called, applause breaks out,
For you the prize, truly grand, no doubt.
The award ceremony, a moment so pure,
May the honor be yours forevermore!)

🧩 Who am I?

Ich bin ein Akt, oft sehr galant,
Mit Urkunde und Preis zur Hand.
Manchmal geht's um Recht und Titel klar,
Doch meistens feiert man den Star.

Was bin ich? ... Die Verleihung

(I am an act, often very gallant,
With certificate and prize at hand.
Sometimes it's about rights and titles clear,
But mostly, we celebrate the star held dear.

What am I?
... The award ceremony / bestowal (Die Verleihung))

ℹ️ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word 'Verleihung' is a noun derived from the verb 'verleihen' (to award, to lend). It consists of:

• The prefix 'ver-' (often indicating a change or completion)
• The verb stem 'leih' (from leihen - to lend/borrow)
• The suffix '-ung', which transforms verbs into nouns, usually denoting a process or result.

So: ver- + leihen + -ung → Verleihung