die
Weltbank
🌍 What exactly is die Weltbank?
Die Weltbank (the World Bank) is an international financial institution headquartered in Washington, D.C., USA. It was founded in 1944 with the primary goal of reducing poverty in developing countries and promoting economic development.
It provides loans, grants, and technical assistance to governments of developing countries for various projects in areas such as education, health, infrastructure, and environmental protection.
🚨 Important: Die Weltbank is a proper noun referring to a specific organization and therefore always uses the article die (feminine).
🧐 Grammar in Detail: Die Weltbank
The noun Weltbank is a proper noun and therefore feminine. It is generally only used in the singular.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Weltbank |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Weltbank |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Weltbank |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Weltbank |
Example Sentences 📖
- Die Weltbank unterstützt Projekte zur Armutsbekämpfung.
(The World Bank supports projects to combat poverty.) - Die Ziele der Weltbank sind ambitioniert.
(The goals of the World Bank are ambitious.) - Viele Länder arbeiten mit der Weltbank zusammen.
(Many countries cooperate with the World Bank.) - Der Präsident besuchte die Weltbank in Washington.
(The president visited the World Bank in Washington.)
🗣️ How to Use "die Weltbank"?
The term die Weltbank is primarily used in contexts related to international finance, development aid, global economic policy, and international relations.
- Contexts: News reports, political discussions, economic reports, academic papers on global development.
- Usage: Always as the specific name for the institution. You talk about der Kredit der Weltbank (the World Bank's loan), die Projekte der Weltbank (the World Bank's projects), die Strategie der Weltbank (the World Bank's strategy).
- Distinction: It should not be confused with a normal commercial bank or a national central bank. The focus is clearly on global development and poverty reduction. The Weltbankgruppe (World Bank Group) is an umbrella term covering several organizations, including die Weltbank (IBRD and IDA).
💡 Mnemonics for Weltbank
Remembering the Article (die)
Remember: The German word for 'bank' is die Bank (feminine). Even though the whole Welt (world) is involved, it remains die Bank – die Weltbank.
Remembering the Meaning
Imagine a huge bank that doesn't just manage money for a city or a country, but for the entire Welt (world) – to help it. That's die Weltbank.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Terms)
- IBRD (Internationale Bank für Wiederaufbau und Entwicklung) - This is the original name and a main part of the World Bank Group.
- Weltbankgruppe (World Bank Group) - Includes the IBRD, IDA, IFC, MIGA, and ICSID. Colloquially, 'Weltbank' is often used for the entire group.
- Internationale Finanzinstitution (IFI) - A more general term that also includes the IMF, etc.
Antonyms (Opposite Terms)
There are no direct antonyms. One might mention organizations with opposing goals, but this would be very specific. In a broader sense:
- Nationale Entwicklungsbanken (National Development Banks) - Focus on one country.
- Private Geschäftsbanken (Private Commercial Banks) - Focus on profit.
- Critics of globalization/neoliberalism - As an ideological contrast to the World Bank's policies.
⚠️ Similar but Different Terms
- Internationaler Währungsfonds (IWF) (International Monetary Fund - IMF): Another major international financial organization, but with a different mandate (monetary stability, short-term loans for balance of payment problems). The IMF and World Bank are often confused or mentioned together (Bretton Woods institutions).
- Europäische Investitionsbank (EIB) (European Investment Bank) or other regional development banks: Have similar goals but a regional focus.
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt ein Journalist den Weltbank-Präsidenten: "Was ist das Geheimnis Ihres Erfolgs?"
Antwortet der Präsident: "Gute Entscheidungen."
Fragt der Journalist weiter: "Aber wie trifft man gute Entscheidungen?"
Antwortet der Präsident: "Erfahrung."
Fragt der Journalist: "Und wie bekommt man Erfahrung?"
Antwortet der Präsident lächelnd: "Schlechte Entscheidungen." 😉
A journalist asks the World Bank President: "What's the secret to your success?"
The President replies: "Good decisions."
The journalist asks further: "But how do you make good decisions?"
The President replies: "Experience."
The journalist asks: "And how do you get experience?"
The President replies with a smile: "Bad decisions." 😉
📜 Poem about die Weltbank
Für die Welt, eine Bank, groß und stark,
kämpft gegen Armut, setzt die Mark'.
Mit Krediten, Wissen, Plan und Geld,
hilft sie Nationen in der ganzen Welt.
Die Weltbank, ein Name wohlbekannt,
reicht vielen Ländern ihre Hand.
--- English Translation ---
For the world, a bank, large and strong,
fights against poverty, sets the mark along.
With loans, knowledge, plan, and funds,
it helps nations across all lands.
The World Bank, a name well-known,
extends its hand to many shown.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich habe Geld für viele Länder parat,
helfe bei Entwicklung, gebe Rat.
Mein Sitz ist nicht in Frankfurt, nicht in Bern,
sondern in Washington, dem Fernen.
Ich bin keine normale Bank am Eck,
mein Ziel ist ein globaler Zweck.
Wer bin ich?
... Die Weltbank
--- English Translation ---
I have money ready for many a land,
I help with development, lend a hand.
My seat is not in Frankfurt, nor in Bern,
but in Washington, a distant turn.
I'm not a normal bank around the bend,
my goal is global, my purpose to lend.
Who am I?
... The World Bank
🧩 Additional Info
- Gründung (Founding): July 1944 at the Bretton Woods Conference, along with the Internationaler Währungsfonds (IWF) (International Monetary Fund - IMF).
- Hauptsitz (Headquarters): Washington, D.C., USA.
- Word Composition: The word "Weltbank" is a compound noun formed from Welt (world) and Bank (bank). The feminine gender die is taken from the base word die Bank.
- Components of the Weltbankgruppe (World Bank Group): Die Weltbank itself consists of the IBRD and IDA. The World Bank Group additionally includes the IFC, MIGA, and ICSID.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Weltbank?
The word "Weltbank" is a proper noun referring to an international financial institution and is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Weltbank.