die
Zunahme
📈 What does 'die Zunahme' mean?
Die Zunahme (noun, feminine) describes the process or result of something becoming larger, more numerous, or stronger. It signifies an increase, rise, or growth in quantity, number, extent, intensity, or weight.
- Growth/Increase: A positive change in a quantity, e.g., die Zunahme der Bevölkerung (the increase in population), die Zunahme des Gewichts (the weight gain/increase).
- Augmentation/Proliferation: When something increases in quantity, e.g., die Zunahme der Aufträge (the increase in orders).
- Intensification: Often used in the context of abstract things, e.g., die Zunahme der Spannungen (the increase in tensions).
It is the noun form related to the verb zunehmen (to increase, to gain weight).
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Focus: die Zunahme
The word 'Zunahme' is a feminine noun. The article is always die.
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zunahme |
| Genitive | der | Zunahme |
| Dative | der | Zunahme |
| Accusative | die | Zunahme |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zunahmen |
| Genitive | der | Zunahmen |
| Dative | den | Zunahmen |
| Accusative | die | Zunahmen |
Example Sentences: Then & Now
- Die Zunahme der Arbeitslosigkeit bereitet Sorgen. (The increase in unemployment is causing concern.)
- Wir beobachten eine stetige Zunahme der Online-Bestellungen. (We are observing a steady increase in online orders.)
- Eine plötzliche Zunahme des Gewichts sollte ärztlich abgeklärt werden. (A sudden weight gain/increase should be medically evaluated.)
- Die Polizei meldet eine Zunahme von Einbrüchen in der Gegend. (The police report an increase in burglaries in the area.)
- Trotz verschiedener Maßnahmen gab es mehrere Zunahmen bei den Infektionszahlen. (Despite various measures, there were several increases in infection numbers.)
💡 Everyday Application: When to use 'Zunahme'
'Die Zunahme' is often used in more formal contexts, especially in reports, news, scientific texts, and discussions about trends.
- Economics & Statistics: Very common for describing economic growth, price increases, population development, etc. (e.g., Zunahme des Bruttoinlandsprodukts - increase in GDP).
- Medicine & Biology: Describing growth processes, weight gain, increase in cells or cases of illness (e.g., Zunahme der Körpertemperatur - increase in body temperature).
- Society & Politics: Used to describe trends like crime rates, migration, approval ratings (e.g., Zunahme der politischen Polarisierung - increase in political polarization).
- Everyday Language: Less frequent, but possible, e.g., "Ich habe eine Zunahme meines Appetits bemerkt." ("I've noticed an increase in my appetite."). Often, verbs like 'zunehmen' (to increase), 'steigen' (to rise), or 'wachsen' (to grow) are preferred here.
Distinction: While 'Zunahme' emphasizes the process or result of the increase, synonyms like 'Wachstum' (growth) might more strongly indicate an organic process, or 'Steigerung' (increase, rise) an increase in intensity or level.
🧠 Memory Aids for Zunahme
- Article Mnemonic: Think of other German nouns ending in '-nahme', like die Ausnahme (the exception) or die Annahme (the assumption/acceptance) – they are often feminine ('die'). Imagine something coming *to* you ('zu') and you 'take' it ('nahme' from 'nehmen') – maybe it's *die* Zunahme (the increase).
- Meaning Mnemonic: The word is composed of 'zu-' (adding to, more) and 'nahme' (from 'nehmen', to take). So, something is being 'taken in addition', it becomes more. Picture yourself 'taking' ('nehmen') more and more cookies *towards* ('zu') you – that's a Zunahme (increase) in cookies (and maybe waistline 😉).
🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- Anstieg (der): Rise, increase. Very similar, often interchangeable, emphasizes the 'rising' aspect.
- Wachstum (das): Growth. Often emphasizes a continuous, organic process.
- Steigerung (die): Increase, enhancement, rise. Often highlights the increase in intensity or level.
- Vermehrung (die): Increase, multiplication, proliferation. Focuses on the increase in number or quantity.
- Erhöhung (die): Increase, raise. Emphasizes the higher level or value.
- Plus (das): Plus, surplus. More colloquial or in specific contexts (e.g., finance).
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- Abnahme (die): Decrease, decline. The direct opposite.
- Rückgang (der): Decline, decrease, drop. Emphasizes going back to a lower level.
- Verringerung (die): Reduction, decrease. Focuses on becoming less.
- Reduzierung (die): Reduction. Emphasizes the active process of reducing.
- Minus (das): Minus, deficit. Opposite of 'Plus'.
- Schwund (der): Loss, shrinkage, decline. Often used for loss of material or substance.
⚠️ Similar but Different Words
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Mathematiker nach den Feiertagen eine deutliche Zunahme auf der Waage bemerkt?
(Why did the mathematician notice a significant increase (Zunahme) on the scale after the holidays?)
Weil er zu viele Pi(e)s gegessen hat! 🥧➕
(Because he ate too many Pi(e)s!)
📜 A Poem about Increase
Mal langsam, mal schnell,
(Sometimes slow, sometimes fast,)
Mal dunkel, mal hell.
(Sometimes dark, sometimes bright.)
Die Zunahme kommt,
(The increase comes,)
Nimmt Raum sich prompt.
(Takes up space promptly.)
An Wissen, an Zahl,
(In knowledge, in number,)
Mal Freude, mal Qual.
(Sometimes joy, sometimes torment.)
Im Großen, im Kleinen,
(In the large, in the small,)
Kann sie uns vereinen
(It can unite us)
Oder auch trennen –
(Or also divide –)
Man muss sie erkennen.
(One must recognize it.)
🤔 Little Riddle
Ich bin oft eine Zahl auf Papier,
(I am often a number on paper,)
Manchmal wachse ich langsam in dir.
(Sometimes I grow slowly within you.)
Mal freut man sich sehr über mich,
(Sometimes people are very happy about me,)
Mal ärgert man sich fürchterlich.
(Sometimes people get terribly annoyed.)
Bin ich beim Geld, ist's meistens gut,
(If I'm with money, it's usually good,)
Beim Gewicht macht's weniger Mut.
(With weight, it brings less courage.)
Was bin ich? / What am I? ... Die Zunahme (The increase)
🧩 Other Info on Zunahme
Word Formation (Wortbildung):
The word 'Zunahme' is a nominalized verb or a derivation. It consists of:
- Prefix 'zu-': Expresses direction, addition, or intensification.
- Stem 'nahme': Derived from the verb 'nehmen' (to take).
Together, it literally means 'taking in addition' or 'adding-to take', which reflects the meaning 'increase' or 'growth' well.
Interesting Fact: Although 'nehmen' is a strong verb (nimmt, nahm, genommen), the declension of the noun 'Zunahme' is regularly weak (plural with -n: Zunahmen).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zunahme?
The German word Zunahme is feminine. The correct article is always die. So, it's die Zunahme (Nominative singular), der Zunahme (Genitive singular), and die Zunahmen (Nominative plural).