die
Weiterleitung
🧐 What does "die Weiterleitung" mean?
Die Weiterleitung (noun, feminine) describes the process where something received (like a message, a call, information, an application, or an object) is sent to another location, person, or entity. It implies movement from one point to the next intended point.
- In a technical/digital context: Often used for forwarding emails (E-Mail-Weiterleitung), calls (Rufweiterleitung), data packets in a network, or redirecting a website URL (URL-Weiterleitung).
- In an administrative/bureaucratic context: Refers to sending a document, application (Antrag), or request (Anfrage) to the responsible department or person for further processing.
- In a physical context (less common): Can also mean the physical forwarding of mail or packages.
⚠️ There is only one article for Weiterleitung: die. It's a feminine noun, recognizable by the typical ending "-ung".
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 Deep Dive: Die Weiterleitung
The word "Weiterleitung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Declension (Beugung)
| Case (Kasus) | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Who/What?) | die | Weiterleitung |
| Genitive (Whose?) | der | Weiterleitung |
| Dative (To/For whom?) | der | Weiterleitung |
| Accusative (Whom/What?) | die | Weiterleitung |
| Case (Kasus) | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Weiterleitungen |
| Genitive | der | Weiterleitungen |
| Dative | den | Weiterleitungen |
| Accusative | die | Weiterleitungen |
Example Sentences 📝
- Die Weiterleitung deiner E-Mail hat funktioniert. (The forwarding of your email worked.)
- Ich warte auf die Bestätigung der Weiterleitung meines Antrags. (I am waiting for the confirmation of the forwarding of my application.)
- Bitte gib mir nach der Weiterleitung Bescheid. (Please let me know after the forwarding.)
- Er richtete eine automatische Weiterleitung für seine Anrufe ein. (He set up automatic forwarding for his calls.)
- Die zahlreichen Weiterleitungen verzögerten die Bearbeitung. (The numerous forwardings delayed the processing.)
💡 How to use "die Weiterleitung"?
"Die Weiterleitung" is a very common word, especially in office, administrative, and technical contexts.
- Email communication: "Ich habe die E-Mail zur Weiterleitung an die zuständige Abteilung erhalten." (I received the email for forwarding to the responsible department.)
- Telephony: "Die automatische Weiterleitung ist aktiv, wenn ich nicht am Platz bin." (The automatic forwarding is active when I'm not at my desk.) Often also: Rufumleitung (call diversion/forwarding).
- Web/Internet: "Nach dem Klick erfolgt eine Weiterleitung zur Bezahlseite." (After clicking, a redirection to the payment page occurs.) Often also: Redirect or Umleitung.
- Mail/Logistics: "Die Weiterleitung des Pakets an die neue Adresse kostet extra." (Forwarding the package to the new address costs extra.)
- Administration: "Die Weiterleitung Ihres Anliegens an das Fachreferat erfolgt umgehend." (The forwarding of your request to the specialist department will happen immediately.)
Compared to Übermittlung (transmission, delivery), Weiterleitung emphasizes the process of sending something to the next station, while Übermittlung describes the general act of sending from A to B. Umleitung (diversion, rerouting, redirection) is often used synonymously, but can also imply a deviation from the planned route (e.g., for a road closure).
🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine. Think of die Leitung (the line/management), die Sendung (the broadcast/shipment), die Umleitung (the diversion)... and therefore also die Weiterleitung. Imagine one (feminine 'eine') message being forwarded.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of "weiter" (further/onward) and "Leitung" (line/lead/conduit). It's about sending something "further" via a "line" (channel, path). So: leading something further -> forwarding.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Weiterleitung
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Umleitung: Often synonymous, especially for URLs or traffic (diversion, redirection).
- Die Fortleitung: Very similar, slightly more formal (forwarding, transmission).
- Die Übermittlung: Emphasizes the transmission/delivery itself.
- Die Weitergabe: Passing something on to the next person/entity.
- Die Durchleitung: Focuses on passing through (e.g., data transmission).
- Der Verweis (technical): e.g., a link or redirect.
- Die Zustellung (mail): The final delivery to the recipient (can occur after forwarding).
Similar but different words:
- Die Leitung: Can mean a physical line/pipe/cable or management/leadership.
- Die Einleitung: The introduction or beginning of something.
- Die Anleitung: Instructions or a manual.
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat die E-Mail Angst vor der Weiterleitung?
Weil sie nicht weiß, bei wem sie am Ende landet und ob derjenige alle ihre Geheimnisse liest! 😉
(Why is the email afraid of being forwarded? Because it doesn't know who it will end up with and if that person will read all its secrets!)
📜 A Little Poem
Die Mail kommt an, ein kurzer Blick,
doch hier ist sie nicht am rechten Fleck.
Ein Klick geschwind, ganz ohne Reu',
die Weiterleitung schickt sie neu.
Zum Kollegen, der's bearbeiten kann,
so fängt die Kette wieder an.
(The mail arrives, a quick glance,
but here it's not in the right circumstance.
A swift click now, without regret,
the forwarding sends it anew, you bet.
To the colleague who can handle the task,
so the chain begins again, at last.)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich nehme an, doch behalt' es nicht,
schick's weiter, das ist meine Pflicht.
Ob digital, per Post, per Draht,
ich sorge für den nächsten Pfad.
Was bin ich?
(I receive, but do not keep,
I send it onward, secrets deep.
Digital, mail, or wire's thread,
I ensure the next path is spread.
What am I?)
Solution: Die Weiterleitung (The forwarding/redirection)
🌐 Other Information
Word Composition:
The word "Weiterleitung" is a compound noun, composed of:
- weiter (adverb/prefix): Indicates progression or continuation ('further', 'onward').
- die Leitung (noun): Means the channel, path, or the process of leading/directing here. The ending "-ung" nominalizes the verb "leiten" (to lead/direct) and makes the noun feminine.
Together, the meaning is: The process of leading/directing something further onward.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weiterleitung?
The German word "Weiterleitung" is feminine. The correct article is always die Weiterleitung. It is used for the process of forwarding information, calls, emails, or applications.