die
Verpflegung
🍽️ What exactly is "die Verpflegung"?
Die Verpflegung (noun, feminine) refers to the provision of food and drinks to people. It encompasses both the meals and beverages provided to someone, often in specific situations or at particular locations.
Contexts where the term is frequently used:
- 🏨 Travel and tourism (e.g., hotel catering, Vollpension (full board), Halbpension (half board))
- 🏢 Workplace (e.g., canteen food, break-time refreshments or Pausenverpflegung)
- 🎉 Events (e.g., catering for a party)
- 🏥 Institutions (e.g., food service in a hospital or nursing home)
- 🪖 Military (e.g., troop rations or Truppenverpflegung)
It's a collective term for the entire meal supply.
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 in Detail: Die Verpflegung
The word "Verpflegung" is a feminine noun. The article is therefore die. It is mostly used in the singular, as it's a collective noun.
Declension of die Verpflegung
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verpflegung |
| Genitive | der | Verpflegung |
| Dative | der | Verpflegung |
| Accusative | die | Verpflegung |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Verpflegungen |
| Genitive | der | Verpflegungen |
| Dative | den | Verpflegungen |
| Accusative | die | Verpflegungen |
The plural "Verpflegungen" is rare and usually only used when referring to different types of catering or specific, repeated supply processes.
Example Sentences
- Die Verpflegung während der Konferenz war ausgezeichnet.
(The catering during the conference was excellent.) - Ist die Verpflegung im Preis inbegriffen?
(Is board/catering included in the price?) - Wir müssen uns noch um die Verpflegung für die Wanderung kümmern.
(We still need to take care of the provisions for the hike.) - Die Kosten für Unterkunft und Verpflegung sind gestiegen.
(The costs for accommodation and board have risen.)
💡 How is "Verpflegung" used?
The term die Verpflegung is very common when talking about the organized provision of food and drink.
- In tourism: One often speaks of Vollpension (full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner), Halbpension (half board: breakfast and one other meal, usually dinner), or nur Frühstück (breakfast only). All these are types of Verpflegung.
- At the workplace: A canteen offers Verpflegung for employees. The provision of snacks and drinks during breaks also falls under this category (Pausenverpflegung).
- At events: Catering provides the Verpflegung for the guests.
- In everyday life: When packing food for a trip, one also speaks of Verpflegung or Reiseverpflegung (travel provisions).
Important note: "Verpflegung" is a rather formal or organizational term. In a purely private context, one would more likely say "Essen und Trinken" (food and drink) or "Proviant" (provisions). For example, you would rarely say: "Ich kümmere mich heute Abend um deine Verpflegung" (I'll take care of your catering tonight), but rather "Ich koche heute Abend für dich" (I'll cook for you tonight) or "Ich bringe Essen mit" (I'll bring food).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Remembering the Article: Many German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine. Think of: die Rechnung (the bill), die Wohnung (the apartment), die Übung (the exercise)... and also die Verpflegung. The ending "-ung" acts like a feminine signal! ♀️
Remembering the Meaning: The word comes from the verb "verpflegen". Think of pflegen (to care for, to nurse) and the prefix "Ver-" which often intensifies or indicates a process. So: intensively pflegen (caring for) someone with necessities (food & drink) = Verpflegung. Imagine a caring person handing you a full plate – that's die Verpflegung. 🍲🥤
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Versorgung: More general, can also refer to other goods (supply, provision).
- Die Beköstigung: Very similar, perhaps slightly more formal (catering, board).
- Die Kost: Often refers to the type of food (leichte Kost - light food, Schonkost - special diet).
- Die Nahrung / Das Essen: More direct, less organizational (food, meal).
- Der Proviant: Specifically for journeys (provisions).
- Das Catering: Loanword for food service at events.
⚠️ Similar but different words:
- Die Pflege: Refers to care for the sick, elderly, or children, not primarily food (nursing, care).
- Die Verpflichtung: An obligation or commitment, unrelated to food (obligation, commitment).
😂 A Little Joke
Hotelgast zum Kellner: "Sagen Sie mal, ist die Verpflegung hier eigentlich im Preis inbegriffen oder muss ich mein mitgebrachtes Sandwich unter dem Tisch essen?"
Kellner: "Keine Sorge, mein Herr, bei unserer Verpflegung wollen Sie Ihr Sandwich freiwillig unter dem Tisch lassen!" 😉
--- Translation ---
Hotel guest to the waiter: "Tell me, is the board/catering actually included in the price here, or do I have to eat my packed sandwich under the table?"
Waiter: "Don't worry, sir, with our catering, you'll want to leave your sandwich under the table voluntarily!" 😉
📜 Poem about Verpflegung
Ob Reise, Fest, ob langer Tag,
was jeder gern bekommen mag,
ist Speis und Trank, gut zubereitet,
was Magenknurren schnell beseitigt.
Man nennt es kurz und sehr bequem,
(und meistens ist's auch angenehm),
als Service wohlbekannt und groß:
Die gute alte Verpflegung bloß!
--- Translation ---
Be it travel, feast, or a long day,
What everyone likes to get, they say,
Is food and drink, prepared with care,
Which quickly banishes hunger's snare.
It's called, concisely and with ease,
(And mostly, it aims to please),
As service known both far and wide:
Just good old Verpflegung, deep inside!
❓ Little Riddle
Ich stille Hunger, lösche Durst,
bin mal Menü und mal nur Wurst.
Im Hotel fragt man oft nach mir,
bei Festen steh' ich an der Tür (als Buffet).
Was bin ich, organisiert und fein,
mal inklusive, mal daheim?
... Die Verpflegung
--- Translation ---
I satisfy hunger, quench your thirst,
Sometimes a menu, sometimes just wurst.
In hotels, they often ask for me,
At parties, I'm there (as buffet) for all to see.
What am I, organized and neat,
Sometimes included, sometimes a home-brought treat?
... Verpflegung (catering/board/provisions)
➕ Other Information
Word Composition
The word Verpflegung is a nominalization (noun form) of the verb verpflegen. This verb consists of:
- Prefix ver-: often intensifying or indicating an action.
- Stem word pflegen: to care for, to tend to.
Together, they create the meaning "to comprehensively supply with necessities (especially food)".
Trivia
- The term Verpflegung plays a significant role in logistics and military affairs, where supplying troops (Truppenverpflegung) is a central challenge.
- In employment contracts or travel bookings, the scope of the Verpflegung (board/catering provided) is often an important contractual component.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Verpflegung?
The German word Verpflegung is feminine. The correct article is therefore die. So it's always die Verpflegung.