die
Verlosung
🎰 What exactly is a Verlosung?
Die Verlosung (feminine, plural: die Verlosungen) refers to a procedure where prizes or winnings are randomly distributed among a group of participants. It's based on chance, often by drawing lots (Lose) or numbers. Essentially, a Verlosung is a type of raffle, draw, or lottery where something is being verlost (raffled off).
There is only one article for this word: die Verlosung. The suffix -ung typically indicates feminine nouns 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 at a Glance: die Verlosung
The noun „Verlosung“ is feminine. Here is its declension:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Verlosung |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Verlosung |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Verlosung |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Verlosung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verlosungen |
| Genitive | der | Verlosungen |
| Dative | den | Verlosungen |
| Accusative | die | Verlosungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Bei der Verlosung gewann ich einen Reisegutschein. (I won a travel voucher at the raffle.)
- Die Teilnahmebedingungen für die Verlosung waren sehr einfach. (The conditions for participation in the draw were very simple.)
- Der Erlös aus den Verlosungen kommt einem guten Zweck zugute. (The proceeds from the raffles benefit a good cause.)
- Viele Unternehmen nutzen Verlosungen für Marketingzwecke. (Many companies use prize draws for marketing purposes.)
💡 How is 'Verlosung' used?
The term Verlosung is frequently used in the following contexts:
- Marketing & Advertising: Companies organize Verlosungen to attract customers or promote products (e.g., „Nimm an unserer großen Weihnachtsverlosung teil!“ - Take part in our big Christmas draw!).
- Events & Festivals: At fairs (Jahrmärkte), school fêtes (Schulfeste), or club parties (Vereinsfeiern), there are often tombolas (Tombolas) or Verlosungen with non-cash prizes.
- Charity: Verlosungen can also serve to raise donations for a good cause.
- Games & Entertainment: In a private setting, a small Verlosung can be part of a game or celebration.
Unlike a Lotterie, which is often state-organized and involves large cash prizes, the prizes in a Verlosung are typically goods or vouchers, and the scale is often smaller or more private. A Tombola is a very similar concept, often involving direct ticket sales at an event.
🧠 Mnemonics for Verlosung
- Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine, so it's clearly die Verlosung! Think of other '-ung' words like die Rechnung (the bill) or die Wohnung (the apartment).
- Meaning Mnemonic: Think of drawing a 'lot' (ticket). A Verlosung involves distributing or drawing 'Lose' (lots) to determine winners. The 'ver-' prefix often indicates a process or completion. So, it's the process of using lots.
Imagine the long queue ('ung' sound) for die Verlosung.
🔄 Similar and Opposite Terms
Synonyms
- Auslosung: (Draw, drawing of lots) Very similar, emphasizes the act of drawing.
- Tombola: (Tombola, raffle) Often at events, usually selling tickets for non-cash prizes.
- Lotterie: (Lottery) More for larger, often state-run games of chance with cash prizes.
- Gewinnspiel: (Competition, contest, prize draw) Broader term, can also include quizzes etc., not just pure chance.
- Preisausschreiben: (Prize competition) Often linked to a task (e.g., answering a question), but the winner might still be drawn by lot.
Antonyms (in a broader sense)
- Gezielte Auswahl: (Targeted selection) The opposite of random chance.
- Kauf: (Purchase) Acquiring something directly without relying on luck.
- Wettbewerb (leistungsorientiert): (Performance-based competition) The best wins, not the luckiest.
- Versteigerung: (Auction) The highest bidder wins.
⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse Verlosung with Verlust (loss) or Auflösung (dissolution, resolution).
😂 A Little Joke
Der Lehrer fragt: „Fritzchen, was ist der Unterschied zwischen einer Verlosung und einer Wahl?“
Fritzchen: „Bei der Verlosung kann man auch gewinnen!“ 😄
Teacher asks: "Fritzchen, what's the difference between a raffle (Verlosung) and an election (Wahl)?"
Fritzchen: "With a raffle, you can actually win something!" 😄
✍️ Poem about a Verlosung
Ein Los in der Trommel, bunt und klein,
bringt Spannung pur und aufgeregt Sein.
Die Trommel dreht sich, das Herz pocht schnell,
bei der Verlosung, auf der Stell'.
Wer zieht das Glück? Wer ruft heut' „Hurra!“?
Das Los entscheidet, wunderbar!
A lot in the drum, colorful and small,
brings pure excitement and thrill to all.
The drum it turns, the heart beats fast,
at the Verlosung, meant to last.
Who draws the luck? Who'll shout "Hooray!" today?
The lot decides, in a wonderful way!
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bringe Freude, manchmal Neid,
durch Zufall wird entschieden weit.
Man kauft ein Zettelchen, hofft auf das Glück,
was bin ich für ein spannendes Stück?
I bring joy, sometimes envy's plight,
By chance alone, decisions take flight.
You buy a small ticket, hope for the best pick,
What am I, this exciting trick?
➡️ Die Verlosung (The raffle / draw)
🧩 Other Information
Word Composition:
- The word „Verlosung“ derives from the verb „verlosen“ (to raffle off, draw lots for).
- „Verlosen“ itself consists of the prefix „ver-“ (often indicating change or completion of an action) and the noun „Los“ (lot, ticket, fate).
- The suffix „-ung“ turns the verb into a noun and marks it as feminine.
Cultural Note: Verlosungen are very popular in Germany, whether it's the drawing of the national lottery numbers (Lottozahlen), the tombola at the local fair (Schützenfest), or a prize draw in the supermarket.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verlosung?
The word "Verlosung" is always feminine. The correct article is die Verlosung. The plural form is "die Verlosungen".