die  Währung

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvɛːʁʊŋ/

💰 What does "die Währung" mean?

Die Währung (feminine noun, plural: die Währungen) refers to the official currency or monetary system of a country or a group of countries. It's the system of coins and banknotes used as a medium of exchange and payment within a specific economic area.

Imagine each country having its own money – that's its Währung. Examples include the Euro (€) in many European countries, the US Dollar ($) in the USA, or the Yen (¥) in Japan.

The word only uses the article "die" and has this primary meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: die Währung

The noun "Währung" is feminine. Therefore, the definite article is die.

📝 Example Sentences

• Der Euro ist die offizielle Währung in Deutschland.
  (The Euro is the official currency in Germany.)
• Der Wechselkurs zwischen verschiedenen Währungen ändert sich ständig.
  (The exchange rate between different currencies changes constantly.)
• Wir mussten unser Geld in die lokale Währung umtauschen.
  (We had to exchange our money into the local currency.)
• Die Stabilität der Währung ist wichtig für die Wirtschaft.
  (The stability of the currency is important for the economy.)

🗣️ How to use "Währung"?

"Währung" is primarily used in the context of economics, finance, and travel.

• Official Currency: When talking about a country's money (e.g., "Die Währung Japans ist der Yen." - Japan's currency is the Yen).
• Currency Exchange: When traveling or in international trade (e.g., "Wo kann ich Währungen umtauschen?" - Where can I exchange currencies?).
• Economic Stability: In relation to the strength or weakness of an economy (e.g., "Die Inflation schwächt die Währung." - Inflation weakens the currency).
• Digital Currencies: Increasingly used for cryptocurrencies (e.g., "Bitcoin ist eine digitale Währung." - Bitcoin is a digital currency).

You might also hear the term "Devisen", which specifically refers to foreign currencies that are traded.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Article Mnemonic

Many feminine nouns in German end in "-ung" (like Zeitung - newspaper, Rechnung - bill, Meinung - opinion). Währung also follows this pattern. Remember: Die ending "-ung" is usually feminine.

Meaning Mnemonic

The word "Währung" comes from "währen," meaning "to last" or "to guarantee value." So, a Währung is meant to guarantee a *lasting value*. Imagine money passing from hand to hand, trying to *wear* well and keep its value. Think 'wear-ung' -> Währung.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Sounding Words

• Wahrung: (die Wahrung) Preservation, safeguarding (e.g., die Wahrung der Interessen - safeguarding the interests). Sounds similar but different meaning.
• Witterung: (die Witterung) Weather conditions.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Kunde den Banker: "Ist mein Geld hier sicher?"
Banker: "Na klar!"
Kunde: "Und was ist, wenn Sie pleitegehen?"
Banker: "Dann kommt die Depositen-Versicherung!"
Kunde: "Und wenn die pleitegeht?"
Banker: "Dann kommt die Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau!"
Kunde: "Und wenn die pleitegeht?"
Banker: "Dann springt der Staat ein!"
Kunde: "Und wenn der Staat pleitegeht?"
Banker: "Mein Gott, Herr Müller, ist Ihnen dafür denn nicht eine kleine Währung wert?!"

---
Translation:
Customer asks the banker: "Is my money safe here?"
Banker: "Of course!"
Customer: "And what if you go bankrupt?"
Banker: "Then the deposit insurance steps in!"
Customer: "And if that goes bankrupt?"
Banker: "Then the Reconstruction Loan Corporation steps in!"
Customer: "And if that goes bankrupt?"
Banker: "Then the state steps in!"
Customer: "And if the state goes bankrupt?"
Banker: "My God, Mr. Müller, isn't that worth a small currency/fee to you?!" (Pun: 'Währung' sounds a bit like it could mean a small offering or fee in this desperate context, besides meaning currency).

📜 Poem about Currency

Ob Euro, Dollar, Pfund,
Die Währung macht die Runde.
Mal stark, mal schwach, mal rar,
Sie ist für Handel da.
In Münzen blank, auf Scheinen bunt,
Verändert sich zu jeder Stund'.
Ein Mittel nur, das ist doch klar,
Doch wichtig für uns, Jahr für Jahr.

---
Translation:
Whether Euro, Dollar, Pound,
The currency goes around.
Sometimes strong, sometimes weak, sometimes rare,
It exists for trade there.
In coins shiny, on notes colorful,
It changes every hour.
Just a means, that is clear,
But important for us, year after year.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich habe viele Namen – Yen, Dollar, Euro, Pfund,
Bin mal aus Metall, mal aus Papier ganz bunt.
In jedem Land bin ich anders genannt,
Als Zahlungsmittel bin ich wohlbekannt.

Was bin ich?
... Die Währung

---
Translation:
I have many names – Yen, Dollar, Euro, Pound,
Sometimes I'm made of metal, sometimes of colorful paper.
In every country, I'm called something different,
As a means of payment, I am well known.

What am I?
... Currency (die Währung)

🤓 Trivia and Etymology

• Word Origin (Wortherkunft): The word "Währung" comes from the Middle High German word "werunge", meaning "guarantee", "security", or "value". It's related to the verb "währen" (to last, endure). So, a Währung was originally intended to have a guaranteed, lasting value.
• Types of Currencies (Arten von Währungen): A distinction is made between convertible currencies (frei handelbar - freely tradable) and non-convertible currencies. There are also reserve currencies (Leitwährungen) like the US Dollar, which play a major global role, and cryptocurrencies (Kryptowährungen) like Bitcoin, which are digital and decentralized.
• Exchange Rate (Wechselkurs): The rate at which one currency is exchanged for another is called the Wechselkurs. It can be fixed or floating.