die
Verordnung
📜 What does "die Verordnung" mean?
Die Verordnung (noun, feminine) is a versatile word with two main meanings:
- In a legal and administrative context: A Verordnung is a legal norm issued by an administrative authority (Exekutive - executive branch) based on statutory authorization. In the hierarchy of norms, it ranks below a formal law (Gesetz), which is passed by parliament (Legislative). It regulates details and implementing provisions for a law. Examples include the road traffic regulations (Straßenverkehrs-Ordnung - StVO) or a fee regulation (Gebührenverordnung). It translates to ordinance, regulation, decree, or by-law.
- In a medical context: Here, a Verordnung is equivalent to a doctor's prescription. It is the written instruction from a doctor to a pharmacist to dispense a specific medication or to a therapist to carry out a treatment (e.g., physiotherapy).
⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!
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 Corner: die Verordnung
The word "Verordnung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verordnung |
| Genitive | der | Verordnung |
| Dative | der | Verordnung |
| Accusative | die | Verordnung |
Declension Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verordnungen |
| Genitive | der | Verordnungen |
| Dative | den | Verordnungen |
| Accusative | die | Verordnungen |
Example Sentences
- Legal/Admin: Die neue Verordnung tritt am 1. Januar in Kraft. (The new regulation comes into effect on January 1st.)
- Legal/Admin: Viele Details wurden erst durch Verordnungen geregelt. (Many details were only regulated by ordinances.)
- Medical: Der Arzt stellte eine Verordnung für Schmerzmittel aus. (The doctor issued a prescription for painkillers.)
- Medical: Bitte reichen Sie die ärztliche Verordnung bei Ihrer Krankenkasse ein. (Please submit the doctor's prescription to your health insurance.)
💡 Using "die Verordnung"
Context is key:
- Legal/Administrative: You talk about "eine Verordnung" in the sense of a regulation, rule, or decree. Typical verbs are "erlassen" (to issue), "ändern" (to change), "aufheben" (to repeal), "gelten" (to apply), "in Kraft treten" (to come into force). Often used in connection with authorities (Behörden), ministries (Ministerien), laws (Gesetze). Example: "Die Verordnung zur Energieeinsparung betrifft alle Haushalte." (The regulation on energy saving affects all households.)
- Medical: Here, "die Verordnung" is a synonym for prescription (das Rezept). Typical verbs are "ausstellen" (to issue), "einlösen" (to fill/redeem), "bekommen" (to get). Often used in connection with doctors (Ärzte), pharmacies (Apotheken), health insurance (Krankenkassen), medication (Medikamente), therapies (Therapien). Example: "Mit dieser Verordnung bekommen Sie das Medikament in der Apotheke." (With this prescription, you can get the medication at the pharmacy.)
Distinction from other words:
- Gesetz (Law): Passed by parliament (Legislative), ranks higher than a Verordnung.
- Erlass (Decree/Order): Often synonymous with Verordnung in the administrative sense, but can also be an internal directive.
- Rezept (Prescription): Specifically the doctor's order for medication. More common in everyday language than "medizinische Verordnung".
🧠 Mnemonics for Verordnung
Article Aid: Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of die Ordnung (the order) -> die Verordnung. It brings (feminine?) order to the system!
Meaning Aid (Legal): The administration (Verwaltung) brings ordner -> a Verordnung (regulation).
Meaning Aid (Medical): The doctor verordnet (prescribes) rest and medicine -> the medical Verordnung (prescription).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- For legal/administrative meaning:
- Erlass (decree, order)
- Vorschrift (regulation, rule)
- Regelung (regulation, arrangement)
- Bestimmung (provision, regulation)
- Dekret (decree - often historical or for emergency regulations)
- For medical meaning:
Antonyms/Contrasting Terms
- For legal regulation:
- Gesetz (law - higher ranking)
- Empfehlung (recommendation - non-binding)
- Freiheit / Regellosigkeit (freedom / lack of rules)
- For medical prescription:
- Freiverkäufliches Medikament (over-the-counter drug)
- Selbstmedikation (self-medication)
Similar but Different Words
- Anordnung: A general order or instruction, not necessarily a legal norm.
- Ordnung: The state of being tidy, or a system; also a set of rules (e.g., Hausordnung - house rules), but usually less formal than a Verordnung.
😂 A Little Joke
Warum trägt der deutsche Beamte immer einen Notizblock?
Damit er jede spontane Idee sofort in eine neue Verordnung umwandeln kann!
(Why does the German civil servant always carry a notepad? So he can immediately turn any spontaneous idea into a new regulation! 😉)
✍️ Poem about Verordnung
Die Verordnung, oft ein dickes Buch,
(The regulation, often a thick book,)
regelt vieles, Zug um Zug.
(regulates many things, step by step.)
Mal vom Amt, mal vom Doktor fein,
(Sometimes from the office, sometimes from the nice doctor,)
sagt dir, was darf und was muss sein.
(tells you what's allowed and what must be.)
Ob Parken, Bauen, Pillen klein –
(Whether parking, building, little pills –)
Sie greift tief ins Leben ein.
(It deeply interferes with life.)
❓ Riddle
Ich steh' nicht im Gesetzbuch ganz oben,
(I'm not at the very top of the statute book,)
wurd' von der Exekutive verwoben.
(was woven by the executive branch.)
Mal regel ich den Straßenverkehr,
(Sometimes I regulate road traffic,)
mal schickt der Arzt mich zu dir her.
(sometimes the doctor sends me to you.)
Was bin ich? / What am I?
(Lösung/Solution: die Verordnung / the ordinance/prescription)
ℹ️ Trivia
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Verordnung" is composed of:
- ver-: A prefix often indicating an action or process (here: bringing into order/stipulating).
- Ordnung: The base word meaning order, structure, rule, or system.
- -ung: A suffix that forms nouns from verbs, often denoting a process or its result. It makes the noun feminine.
So, "Verordnung" literally means the result of 'bringing into order' or 'ordering'.
European Union: In EU law, a Verordnung (EU Regulation) is a legal act that has general application, is binding in its entirety, and is directly applicable in all Member States – a very strong form of legal norm.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verordnung?
The word Verordnung is always feminine. The correct article is die (die Verordnung, der Verordnung, die Verordnungen). It refers to a legal regulation below the level of a formal law, or a medical prescription.