die  Zensur

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/t͡sɛnˈzuːɐ̯/

🧐 What Exactly Does "die Zensur" Mean?

The German word die Zensur primarily has two meanings:

1. Censorship (Control and Examination of Content): This is the most common meaning. It refers to the official or institutional review, control, and potential suppression or alteration of publications (books, films, press, internet content) before their dissemination. The goal is often to prevent undesirable political, moral, or religious content. 📰🚫
2. (School) Grade/Mark (outdated/regional): Historically, and still regionally today, "Zensur" can also be used as a synonym for a school grade or report card. For example: "Er hat gute Zensuren bekommen." (He got good grades.) However, this meaning has become less common; today, people usually say Noten (grades) or Bewertungen (assessments). 🎓✅

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar of "die Zensur" in Detail

"Zensur" is a feminine noun. Its declension is as follows:

💡 Examples for Illustration

• Die Zensur von Presseartikeln ist in vielen Ländern verboten.
  (The censorship of press articles is forbidden in many countries.)
• Früher fürchteten Schüler die schlechten Zensuren am Schuljahresende.
  (In the past, students feared bad grades (Zensuren) at the end of the school year.)
• Manche Regierungen üben strenge Zensur über das Internet aus.
  (Some governments exercise strict censorship over the internet.)
• Der Film unterlag der Zensur und wurde gekürzt.
  (The film was subject to censorship and was cut.)

🗣️ How to Use "die Zensur"?

The usage of die Zensur depends heavily on the specific meaning.

• In the context of control/suppression: Here, the word is often used in political, media, or societal discussions. It usually carries a negative connotation and is associated with the restriction of freedom (freedom of speech, freedom of the press). Typical collocations include: Zensur ausüben (to exercise censorship), der Zensur unterliegen (to be subject to censorship), staatliche Zensur (state censorship), Filmzensur (film censorship), Internetzensur (internet censorship).
• In the context of school grades: This usage is less common and often perceived as outdated. You'll find it more in older texts or when discussing the school system of past eras. Today, one usually says die Note (plural: die Noten - grade/s) or die Bewertung (assessment). If using "Zensur" in this sense, ensure the context makes it clear you're talking about school grades to avoid misunderstanding.

Distinction: While Kontrolle generally means checking or monitoring, Zensur usually implies restriction or suppression based on content. Bewertung is a neutral term for an assessment (e.g., of performance), whereas Zensur (meaning grade) has an official character within a grading system (school).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Zensur"

• Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ur in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of: die Natur (nature), die Kultur (culture), die Figur (figure), die Zensur. They are all 'sure' ('-ur' sound) to be feminine! 😉

• Meaning Mnemonic (Censorship): Imagine a censor making sure (like Zensur) that nothing offensive gets published, cutting things out. ✂️

• Meaning Mnemonic (Grade): Getting a bad grade (Zensur) isn't very mature. Or: The grade was so bad, the student needed a cure (like Zensur) for their sadness. 📚

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Words for Distinction

• Die Rezension: A review or critique (e.g., of a book), not official control.
• Die Korrektur: The correction of errors, not the suppression of content.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Zensor den Kalender gekürzt?
Weil ihm die Tage gezählt waren! 🗓️✂️

(Why did the censor shorten the calendar?
Because its days were numbered!)

📜 Poem about Censorship

Die Feder kratzt, das Wort will raus,
Doch prüfend schaut ein strenges Haus.
Die Zensur, mit Stift und wachem Blick,
Schneidet am freien Geist ein Stück.

Ob Film, ob Buch, ob Zeitungsblatt,
Was nicht gefällt, das macht sie platt.
Doch Wahrheit sucht sich ihren Weg,
Ist stärker als manch' strenges Steg.

The pen scrapes, the word wants out,
A watchful house looks sternly about.
Censorship, with pen and keen eye near,
Cuts from free spirit something dear.

Be it film, or book, or newspaper sheet,
What's disliked, it renders flat, effete.
But truth seeks out its path anew,
Stronger than many a narrow view.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich kann Meinungen beschneiden oder Leistung messen,
Manchmal werd' ich gefürchtet, manchmal fast vergessen.
Im Staat kann ich Freiheit schmälern, in der Schule Noten sein.
Mit -ur am Ende, feminin und allgemein.

Was bin ich?
(Lösung: die Zensur)

I can curtail opinions or measure how you fare,
Sometimes I'm feared, sometimes barely there.
In state, I lessen freedom; in school, a grade I seem,
Ending in -ur, feminine, a common theme.

What am I?
(Solution: die Zensur / censorship/grade)

🌐 Other Interesting Aspects

Word Origin (Etymology): The word "Zensur" comes from the Latin censura, which originally meant "assessment," "examination," or "office and activity of the censor." The censor in ancient Rome was an official responsible for assessing citizens' property and overseeing public morals.

Compounds (Wortzusammensetzungen): The word often forms compound nouns (Komposita) that specify the area of censorship, e.g.: Filmzensur (film censorship), Pressezensur (press censorship), Internetzensur (internet censorship), Militärzensur (military censorship), Vorzensur (pre-publication censorship), Nachzensur (post-publication censorship).