die  Vollendung

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/fɔlˈʔɛndlʊŋ/

🏁 What does 'die Vollendung' mean?

Die Vollendung (noun, feminine) describes the state or act of completion, accomplishment, or achieving perfection. It can refer to a work, process, or development that is brought to its best possible or final state.

• Meaning 1: The state of being finished, completion (e.g., of a project, an artwork).
• Meaning 2: The state of highest quality or perfection.
• Meaning 3: The act of completing or perfecting.

Since the word ends in '-ung', the article is almost always die, which is the case here. There are no other articles for this word.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar of Vollendung in Detail

Die Vollendung is a feminine noun. The plural (die Vollendungen) is rarely used and usually refers to multiple completed works or processes.

Declension (Singular)

Declension (Plural - rare)

Example Sentences

1. Die Vollendung dieses Gemäldes dauerte Jahre.
   (The completion of this painting took years.)
2. Er strebte stets nach ästhetischer Vollendung.
   (He always strove for aesthetic perfection.)
3. Die Musiker spielten das Stück mit technischer Vollendung.
   (The musicians played the piece with technical perfection/mastery.)
4. Nach langer Arbeit feierten sie die Vollendung des Projekts.
   (After long work, they celebrated the completion of the project.)

💡 How 'die Vollendung' is Used

Die Vollendung is often used in contexts implying a high degree of quality, effort, or artistry.

• Art & Culture: One often speaks of the Vollendung of an artwork, a symphony, or a literary work. Example: Die Vollendung der Sagrada Familia dauert schon über ein Jahrhundert. (The completion of the Sagrada Familia has already taken over a century.)
• Projects & Work: It can denote the successful conclusion of an important project or task. Example: Die Vollendung der Doktorarbeit war ein Meilenstein. (The completion of the doctoral thesis was a milestone.)
• Personal Development/Philosophy: Figuratively, it can mean achieving a state of perfection or maturity. Example: Manche suchen ein Leben lang nach spiritueller Vollendung. (Some search their whole lives for spiritual perfection/fulfillment.)

Difference from 'Fertigstellung': While Fertigstellung often neutrally indicates the finishing of a task, Vollendung frequently carries connotations of high quality, perfection, or artistic merit.

🧠 Mnemonics for die Vollendung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine ('die'). Think: Übung (practice) leads to Vollendung (completion) - and both take 'die'.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of something being 'voll' (full) brought to an 'Ende' (end). It has reached its Voll-Endung – its complete ending or perfection.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Note: Although Abschluss and Fertigstellung can be synonyms, Vollendung often emphasizes quality and the achievement of an ideal more strongly.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Perfektionist die Party verlassen?
Er sagte: "Ich kann erst gehen, wenn die Feier ihre absolute Vollendung erreicht hat... aber ich glaube, das dauert noch ewig!" 😉

Translation: Why did the perfectionist leave the party?
He said: "I can only leave once the celebration has reached its absolute completion/perfection... but I think that will take forever!" 😉

✍️ Poem about Vollendung

Ein Pinselstrich, ein letzter Ton,
ein Wort gesetzt auf seinen Thron.
Was lang gewährt, nun ist's getan,
bricht sich die stolze Vollendung Bahn.

Kein Zögern mehr, kein Suchen, Fragen,
in reifer Schönheit will's ertragen,
das Licht der Welt, den kritschen Blick,
im Abschluss liegt das wahre Glück.

Translation:
A brushstroke, a final tone,
a word placed upon its throne.
What took long, now it is done,
proud completion has begun (lit: breaks its path).

No more hesitation, no searching, asking,
in mature beauty it wants to bear,
the light of the world, the critical gaze,
in conclusion lies true happiness.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin das Ziel von Künstlerhand,
beende Mühen hier im Land.
Man strebt nach mir in höchster Not,
bin quasi Perfektion im Lot.

Wer bin ich?

Translation:
I am the goal of the artist's hand,
I end troubles here in the land.
People strive for me in greatest need,
I am practically perfection indeed (lit: in plumb).

Who am I?

Solution: die Vollendung

🧩 Trivia & Origin

Word Composition: The word Vollendung is composed of:

• voll: adjective/adverb meaning 'full', 'complete'.
• Ende: noun meaning 'end'.
• -ung: suffix used to form feminine nouns denoting a process or its result.

So, it literally describes the 'full end' or the 'coming to a full end'.

Philosophical Context: The term also plays a role in philosophy and theology, often in connection with human or divine perfection and the purpose of existence.