die  Vernachlässigung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɛɐ̯naχˈlɛsɪɡʊŋ/

🧐 What does "die Vernachlässigung" mean?

Die Vernachlässigung (feminine noun) means neglect or disregard. It refers to the failure to provide necessary care, attention, or upkeep for a person, animal, thing, or duty. It implies culpable or at least careless behavior where something important is ignored or not sufficiently attended to.

• Breach of duty: Not fulfilling tasks or responsibilities (e.g., die Vernachlässigung der Dienstpflichten - the neglect of official duties).
• Lack of care: Missing or inadequate provision or care, especially for vulnerable individuals or animals (e.g., die Vernachlässigung von Kindern - child neglect, Tiervernachlässigung - animal neglect).
• Lack of maintenance: Insufficient upkeep or care of objects or places (e.g., die Vernachlässigung des Gartens - the neglect of the garden).

The word is derived from the verb "vernachlässigen" (to neglect). The ending "-ung" often signals a feminine noun in German.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar: Die Vernachlässigung in Detail

"Vernachlässigung" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural form "die Vernachlässigungen" is rarely used.

Example Sentences

1. Die Vernachlässigung ihrer Pflichten führte zur Kündigung.
   (The neglect of her duties led to dismissal.)
2. Kindesvernachlässigung ist ein ernsthaftes Problem.
   (Child neglect is a serious problem.)
3. Man sah dem Haus die jahrelange Vernachlässigung an.
   (You could see the years of neglect on the house.)
4. Die Staatsanwaltschaft ermittelt wegen grober Vernachlässigung.
   (The public prosecutor's office is investigating for gross neglect.)

💡 Application and Context: When to use "Vernachlässigung"?

The term "Vernachlässigung" is mostly used in serious contexts, often with a negative connotation. Typical use cases include:

• Social and legal domain: Especially common in relation to child endangerment (Kindesvernachlässigung), deficiencies in care (Vernachlässigung von Pflegebedürftigen - neglect of persons in need of care), or animal welfare (Tiervernachlässigung).
• Professional environment: When tasks or responsibilities are not fulfilled (Vernachlässigung von Dienstpflichten - neglect of duties).
• Personal sphere: Can refer to oneself (Selbstvernachlässigung - self-neglect) or personal relationships and possessions (Vernachlässigung von Freundschaften - neglect of friendships, Vernachlässigung des Eigentums - neglect of property).

It's a stronger word than simple "Nachlässigkeit" (carelessness) and often implies more severe consequences.

🧠 Mnemonics for Vernachlässigung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German. Remember: the ending (-ung) makes Vernachlässigung take the article die.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone being very nachlässig (careless), letting things slide. When this is 'intensified' or 'done wrongly' (indicated by the prefix 'ver-'), it becomes Vernachlässigung (neglect).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Note: "Nachlässigkeit" (carelessness) is weaker than "Vernachlässigung" (neglect). Vernachlässigung often implies a breach of duty or more serious consequences.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Gärtner seinen Kalender vernachlässigt?
Er hatte keine Zeit (Thymian)!

(Why did the gardener neglect his calendar?
He didn't have the thyme! (A pun: "keine Zeit" = no time; "Thymian" = thyme, sounds similar))

📜 A Poem about Vernachlässigung

Wo einst die Farbe hell erstrahlt,
ist Staub nun grau und alt.
Wo Lachen klang und Leben war,
liegt Stille, schwer und bar.
Ein leises Mahnen, ungesehn,
die Pflichten lässt man stehn.
So schleicht sie sich ins Dasein ein,
die kalte Vernachlässigung, gemein.

(Where once the colour brightly shone,
dust is now grey and old, alone.
Where laughter rang and life was there,
lies silence, heavy, bare.
A quiet warning, left unseen,
the duties are let be, lean.
Thus it creeps into existence's scene,
the cold neglect, so mean.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin das Gegenteil von Pflege und Fleiß,
mache Gärten wild und Herzen zu Eis.
Ich wachse im Schatten von 'Ist mir egal',
bin oft strafbar, bring Kummer und Qual.

Was bin ich?

(I am the opposite of care and diligence,
I make gardens wild and hearts turn to ice.
I grow in the shadow of 'I don't care',
am often punishable, bring sorrow and despair.

What am I?)

Solution: die Vernachlässigung (neglect)

📌 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Vernachlässigung" is composed of:

• The prefix "ver-": Can indicate something going wrong, awry, or excessively (like in verlieren - to lose, versagen - to fail).
• The adjective stem "nachlässig": Meaning careless, negligent.
• The suffix "-ung": Forms a feminine noun from the verb (vernachlässigen) and denotes the process or state.

Relevance: The term holds significant social and legal relevance, particularly in child protection and elder/dependent care.