die
Zulassung
📜 What does "die Zulassung" actually mean?
Die Zulassung (feminine, plural: die Zulassungen) is a noun generally describing an official permission, approval, or confirmation. It signifies that someone or something is granted access or participation in something. The precise meaning strongly depends on the context:
- University context: The permission to study at a university or college (admission, enrollment). Example: Die Zulassung zum Medizinstudium ist sehr begehrt. (Admission to medical studies is highly sought after.)
- Official/Regulatory context: The official approval for the operation or use of something, e.g., a vehicle (vehicle registration/licensing), a medication (drug approval), or a product. Example: Ohne gültige Zulassung darf das Auto nicht auf die Straße. (Without valid registration, the car is not allowed on the road.)
- Professional context: The permission to practice a certain profession (e.g., admission to the bar for lawyers, medical license for doctors). Example: Nach dem Examen erhielt sie ihre Zulassung als Ärztin. (After the exam, she received her license as a doctor.)
⚠️ Important: A Zulassung is often a formal act confirmed in writing (e.g., through a Zulassungsbescheid - letter of admission/approval).
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 in Detail: Die Zulassung
The word "Zulassung" is a feminine noun. Therefore, the article is always "die".
Declension of "die Zulassung"
Case | Article | Noun |
---|---|---|
Nominative | die | Zulassung |
Genitive | der | Zulassung |
Dative | der | Zulassung |
Accusative | die | Zulassung |
Case | Article | Noun |
---|---|---|
Nominative | die | Zulassungen |
Genitive | der | Zulassungen |
Dative | den | Zulassungen |
Accusative | die | Zulassungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Sie wartet gespannt auf die Zulassung zum Masterstudium. (She is eagerly waiting for admission to the Master's program.)
- Die Voraussetzungen für die Zulassung sind streng. (The requirements for admission are strict.)
- Wegen fehlender Zulassungen konnten einige Produkte nicht verkauft werden. (Due to missing approvals, some products could not be sold.)
- Der Widerruf der Zulassung hatte schwerwiegende Folgen. (The revocation of the license/approval had serious consequences.)
💡 How "die Zulassung" is used
"Die Zulassung" is a term primarily used in formal and official language. You will often encounter it in the fields of:
- Education: Hochschulzulassung (university admission), Studienzulassung (admission to studies), Zulassungsbeschränkung (admission restriction, e.g., Numerus Clausus)
- Administration & Law: Kfz-Zulassung (vehicle registration/licensing), Arzneimittelzulassung (drug approval), Anwaltszulassung (admission to the bar), Zulassungsstelle (registration office), Zulassungsverfahren (admission/approval procedure)
- Technology & Economy: Produktzulassung (product approval), Marktzulassung (market approval), Typzulassung (type approval)
Distinction from similar words:
- Genehmigung (approval, permit): Often more general than Zulassung, can also be used for less formal permissions. A Zulassung is a specific type of Genehmigung.
- Erlaubnis (permission): Even more general, often used in personal or less formal contexts.
- Bewilligung (granting, approval): Often refers to the granting of funds or applications.
One often speaks of beantragen (applying for), erhalten (receiving), bekommen (getting), verlieren (losing) a Zulassung, or it can be erteilt (granted) or widerrufen (revoked).
🧠 Mnemonics for "die Zulassung"
For the article "die": Remember that most German nouns ending in "-ung" are feminine (die Prüfung - the exam, die Meinung - the opinion, die Heizung - the heating, die Zulassung). Think of the endING -> femININE.
For the meaning: Think of "Zu-lassung" as being 'let towards' or 'allowed access to' (zu) something. It's the permission you need TO get IN.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Genehmigung: (approval, permit - often interchangeable, but Zulassung is more specific)
- Erlaubnis: (permission - more general)
- Bewilligung: (granting, approval - often for funds/applications)
- Immatrikulation/Einschreibung: (enrollment - specific to universities)
- Registrierung: (registration - for vehicles, but also other contexts)
- Lizenz: (license - often for software or professional activities)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Ablehnung: (rejection, refusal)
- Verweigerung: (denial, refusal)
- Ausschluss: (exclusion, expulsion)
- Verbot: (ban, prohibition)
- Widerruf: (revocation)
🚨 Watch out for false friends:
- Auflassung: This is a legal term in German real estate law (agreement on transfer of ownership). It sounds similar but means something completely different!
😄 A Little Joke
Warum hat das Auto keine Zulassung bekommen?
(Why didn't the car get its registration/approval?)
Es hatte zu viele Macken und konnte die Prüfer einfach nicht überzeugen!
(It had too many flaws and just couldn't convince* the inspectors! - Wordplay: überzeugen = to convince, but also related to Zeug = stuff/thing, hinting at the car itself)* 🚗💨
✒️ Poem about Admission (Zulassung)
Der Brief kam an, das Herz schlug schnell,
(The letter arrived, the heart beat fast,)
steht drin ein Ja, ist alles hell?
(Does it say yes, is everything bright?)
Die Zulassung, schwarz auf weiß,
(The admission, black on white,)
öffnet Türen, heiß ersehnt, als Preis.
(Opens doors, eagerly awaited, as a prize.)
Für Mühe, Lernen, lange Nacht,
(For effort, learning, long nights,)
hat dieser Zettel nun gebracht,
(This piece of paper has now brought,)
die Chance neu, ein Start, ein Schritt,
(The chance anew, a start, a step,)
nimm sie nun wahr, geh mutig mit!
(Seize it now, go bravely along!)
🧩 Riddle
Ich bin ein Schein, oft sehr begehrt,
(I am a paper, often highly desired,)
der dir den Eintritt erst gewährt.
(That first grants you entry.)
Ob Uni, Auto oder Job,
(Whether university, car, or job,)
ohne mich gibt's meistens Stopp.
(Without me, there's usually a stop.)
Ich trage einen femininen Artikel fein,
(I carry a feminine article fine,)
was mag ich nur sein?
(What might I be?)
Solution: die Zulassung (the admission/approval/registration)
✨ More Information
Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):
The word "Zulassung" is a verbal noun derived from the verb zulassen. It consists of:
- Prefix zu-: expresses a direction, addition, or granting.
- Verb lassen: here meaning to let, allow, permit.
- Suffix -ung: forms feminine nouns from verbs, often describing the process or result of the action.
So: zu-lassen (to allow, grant access) + -ung = die Zulassung (the permission, the act of admitting, the result).
Trivia: In Germany, the Zulassungsbescheinigung Teil I (Registration Certificate Part I) and Teil II (Part II) replaced the former Fahrzeugschein (vehicle registration document) and Fahrzeugbrief (vehicle title document).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zulassung?
The German word Zulassung is a feminine noun. The correct article is always die: die Zulassung.