die  Vermietung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯ˈmiːtʊŋ/

🏠 What does "die Vermietung" mean?

Die Vermietung refers to the process or the result of renting something out or letting. It's the act where a person or company (the Vermieter - landlord/lessor) grants another person or company (the Mieter - tenant/lessee) the use of an item (e.g., Wohnung - apartment, Auto - car, Werkzeug - tool) for a specific period in exchange for payment (the Miete - rent).

It represents the perspective of the owner who offers something for rent. The counterpart from the tenant's perspective is the Anmietung (renting) or simply the Miete (rent).

Since the word ends in "-ung", it's feminine (die Vermietung). This is a very helpful rule in German! 👍

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Vermietung

The noun "Vermietung" is feminine. Here are the declension tables:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Vermietung der Wohnung verlief problemlos.
   (The letting of the apartment went smoothly.)
2. Er kümmert sich um die Vermietung mehrerer Ferienhäuser.
   (He takes care of the rental of several holiday homes.)
3. Die Einnahmen aus der Vermietung müssen versteuert werden.
   (The income from the rental must be taxed.)
4. Nach mehreren erfolglosen Vermietungen stand das Büro leer.
   (After several unsuccessful lettings, the office was vacant.)

💡 When to use "Vermietung"?

"Vermietung" is used when talking about the act of renting something out from the provider's perspective.

• Context: Real estate (Wohnungen - apartments, Häuser - houses, Büros - offices), vehicles (Autos - cars, Fahrräder - bicycles), equipment (Werkzeuge - tools, Maschinen - machines), services (Personalvermietung - temporary staffing, rare).
• Formality: Used in both formal (contracts, advertisements) and informal contexts.
• Distinction from other words:
  • Miete: Often refers to the rent payment (die Miete zahlen - pay the rent) or the state of renting from the tenant's view (zur Miete wohnen - to live in rented accommodation).
  • Anmietung: The act of renting from the tenant's perspective.
  • Verleih: Similar to Vermietung, often used for shorter periods or movable items (e.g., Filmverleih - film rental, Werkzeugverleih - tool hire).
  • Pacht / Verpachtung: Similar to Miete/Vermietung, but often for land or businesses where the lessee (Pächter) is also allowed to profit from its use (e.g., farming).

Example: An estate agent (Immobilienmakler) talks about the Vermietung of an apartment, while the prospective tenant talks about the Anmietung or asks about the level of the Miete.

🧠 Mnemonics for Vermietung

For the article (die): The ending "-ung" is almost always feminine in German. Think of other "-ung" words: die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment), die Rechnung (bill). So, it's: die Vermietung!

For the meaning: Imagine someone saying, "I must meet uncle Sam to arrange the renting out (Vermietung) of his cabin." The sound 'meet-ung' can remind you of Vermietung, linked to the act of renting out.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Vermittlung: (Mediation, placement, agency) The act of bringing parties together (e.g., job placement - Arbeitsvermittlung, property agent - Wohnungsvermittlung). Sounds similar but has a different meaning.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Vermieter den neuen Mieter: "Haben Sie Haustiere?" Antwortet der Mieter: "Nur eine Stubenfliege." Vermieter: "Aber Fliegen sind doch kein Problem!" Mieter: "Diese schon, sie ist stubenrein!"

English Translation: The landlord asks the new tenant: "Do you have any pets?" The tenant answers: "Only a housefly." Landlord: "But flies aren't a problem!" Tenant: "This one is, it's house-trained!" (Play on 'stubenrein' meaning house-trained and 'Stubenfliege' meaning housefly)

📜 Poem about Vermietung

German:
Ein Haus, ein Auto, ein Gerät,
steht ungenutzt, das ist doch öd.
Drum biet' es an, mit gutem Plan,
die Vermietung fängt jetzt an.

Der Mieter kommt, der Preis wird klar,
die Nutzung gilt für Zeit, fürwahr.
Vertrag gemacht, Schlüssel bereit,
so läuft's in der Vermietungszeit.

English Translation:
A house, a car, a device you own,
Stands unused, feeling quite alone.
So offer it up, with a clever plan,
The letting process now began.

The tenant comes, the price is clear,
The usage right, for time, is here.
A contract signed, keys ready now,
That's how the rental time knows how.

❓ Riddle

German:
Ich geb' dir was, doch bleibt's nicht dein,
für Geld und Zeit lass ich dich rein.
Der Eigentümer macht dies gern,
hält Ungenutztes von sich fern.
Was ist das Tun, feminin und schlau,
mit Endung '-ung', ganz genau?

Lösung: Die Vermietung

English Translation:
I give you something, but yours it won't stay,
For money and time, I let you have your way.
The owner does this readily,
Keeps unused things away, you see.
What is this act, feminine and smart,
With an '-ung' ending, playing its part?

Solution: Die Vermietung (the renting out / letting)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Vermietung" is a noun derived from the verb "vermieten" (to rent out). It consists of:

• Prefix "ver-"
• Stem of the verb "mieten" (to rent)
• Suffix "-ung" which nominalizes verbs (turns them into nouns)

Trivia:

The term "Vermietung und Verpachtung" (letting and leasing), often abbreviated as "VuV", is an important tax term in Germany referring to income generated from letting out property and certain rights.