die
Zusammenstellung
🧩 What does "die Zusammenstellung" mean?
Die Zusammenstellung (noun, feminine) describes the process or the result of combining or arranging different elements into a whole. It can refer to a compilation, an arrangement, a composition, a selection, or an assortment.
- Meaning 1: The process of combining (e.g., die Zusammenstellung der Daten - the compilation of the data).
- Meaning 2: The result of this process, an ordered collection or selection (e.g., eine Zusammenstellung von Liedern - a compilation of songs, eine Zusammenstellung von Informationen - a summary/compilation of information).
Since the word ends in -ung, it is typically feminine and uses the article "die". There are no exceptions or common mistakes regarding the article here.
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 of "die Zusammenstellung" in Detail
"Die Zusammenstellung" is a feminine noun. The declension follows the pattern for feminine nouns ending in -ung (weak declension in plural).
Singular
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative (Subject) | die | Zusammenstellung |
| Genitive (Possessive) | der | Zusammenstellung |
| Dative (Indirect Object) | der | Zusammenstellung |
| Accusative (Direct Object) | die | Zusammenstellung |
Plural
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zusammenstellungen |
| Genitive | der | Zusammenstellungen |
| Dative | den | Zusammenstellungen |
| Accusative | die | Zusammenstellungen |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Zusammenstellung der Beweise dauerte mehrere Wochen.
(The compilation of the evidence took several weeks.) - Ich bewundere die Qualität seiner Zusammenstellung von Kurzgeschichten.
(I admire the quality of his compilation of short stories.) - Wir arbeiten an der Zusammenstellung des Programms.
(We are working on the compilation/arrangement of the program.) - Der Redakteur prüft die Zusammenstellung der Artikel.
(The editor checks the compilation/arrangement of the articles.) - Verschiedene Zusammenstellungen wurden vorgeschlagen.
(Various compilations/arrangements were suggested.) - Die Themen der Zusammenstellungen sind vielfältig.
(The topics of the compilations are diverse.) - Der Musiker fügte den neuen Zusammenstellungen weitere Lieder hinzu.
(The musician added more songs to the new compilations.) - Er präsentierte die fertigen Zusammenstellungen.
(He presented the finished compilations/arrangements.)
💡 How to use "Zusammenstellung"?
"Zusammenstellung" is often used when talking about intentionally combining various things into a unit or an ordered list. The focus is often on the selection and arrangement of the elements.
- Contexts: One often speaks of the Zusammenstellung von Informationen (compilation of information), Daten (data), Dokumenten (documents), einer Playlist (a playlist), eines Menüs (a menu), einer Mannschaft (a team), or einer Ausstellung (an exhibition - although 'Ausstellung' itself is more common for 'exhibition').
- Distinction: While Sammlung (collection) emphasizes the existence of things, Zusammenstellung highlights the active process of selecting and arranging. Komposition (composition) often emphasizes the creative aspect more strongly, especially in art and music. Anordnung (arrangement) primarily focuses on spatial or structural organization.
- Formality: The word can be used in both formal (e.g., wissenschaftliche Zusammenstellung von Daten - scientific compilation of data) and informal contexts (e.g., Zusammenstellung einer Urlaubs-Playlist - compilation of a holiday playlist).
🧠 Mnemonics for "Zusammenstellung"
Remembering the Article: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Think of the ending: die Stellung (position), die Ordnung (order), die Sammlung (collection)... and therefore also die Zusammenstellung. The -ung ending is your feminine guide (die guide)!
Remembering the Meaning: Break down the word: Zusammen (together) + Stellung (from the verb 'stellen' - to put/place). You are 'putting things together'. Imagine taking various building blocks (information, songs, objects) and carefully putting them together (zusammenstellen) to form a new whole – that's a Zusammenstellung.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Sammlung: (Collection) - Emphasizes the result, the existence of the elements.
- Auswahl: (Selection) - Highlights the aspect of choosing.
- Komposition: (Composition) - Often in artistic or musical contexts; emphasizes creating a harmonious whole.
- Anordnung: (Arrangement) - Focuses on the structure or order.
- Kompilation: (Compilation) - Very similar, often used for collections of texts, music, or data.
- Potpourri: (Potpourri) - A diverse mix of different things.
- Sortiment: (Assortment) - More common in retail for a range of goods.
Antonyms (Conceptual Opposites):
- Chaos / Unordnung: (Chaos / Disorder) - The lack of structure or order.
- Durcheinander: (Muddle, mess) - A disorganized state.
- Trennung / Auflösung: (Separation / Dissolution) - The opposite of putting together.
- Zerstreuung: (Dispersion, scattering) - Distribution instead of collection.
⚠️ Similar Words (Confusion Alert):
- Vorstellung: Can mean 'introduction' or 'imagination/idea'.
- Ausstellung: An 'exhibition' or 'display' of objects, often art.
- Darstellung: The way something is shown or described ('representation', 'portrayal').
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie schon die Zusammenstellung der wichtigsten Kundendaten erledigt?" Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Ja, Chef! Aber es war schwierig, die alle auf einem Selfie zusammenzustellen!"
English: The boss asks the new employee: "Have you finished the compilation of the most important customer data yet?" The employee replies: "Yes, boss! But it was difficult to compile (get together) all of them in one selfie!"
📜 Poem about Zusammenstellung
German:
Aus vielen Teilen, bunt und klein,
soll nun ein Ganzes fertig sein.
Mit Plan und Sinn, mit ruhiger Hand,
entsteht im Geist, dann an der Wand,
ob Daten, Lieder, Wort für Wort,
an diesem schönen, neuen Ort,
die Zusammenstellung, klar und rein,
so soll die Ordnung immer sein.
English Translation:
From many parts, colourful and small,
A whole should now stand ready, tall.
With plan and sense, with steady hand,
Created first in mind, then on the stand,
Be it data, songs, or word by word,
In this fine, new place, to be conferred,
The compilation, clear and pure,
Thus order should forever endure.
🤔 Riddle
German:
Ich bringe Ordnung ins Gewirr,
verbinde dies und das mit dir.
Ob Musik, Berichte oder Listen,
ich helfe dir, nichts zu vermissen.
Am Ende steht ein Werk bereit,
geschaffen mit Geschicklichkeit.
Wie heiße ich, wenn man Dinge klug vereint?
English Translation:
I bring order to the tangle,
Connecting this and that, I wrangle.
Whether music, reports, or lists,
I help ensure nothing is missed.
In the end, a work stands complete,
Created with skill, oh so neat.
What am I called, when things are smartly combined?
Solution: die Zusammenstellung (the compilation/arrangement)
✨ Other Information
Word Composition: The word is derived from the verb "zusammenstellen" (to compile, to put together). It consists of:
- Prefix: zusammen- (together, jointly)
- Stem: stellen (to put, place, arrange)
- Suffix: -ung (suffix used to form feminine nouns, often denoting a process or its result)
This structure makes the meaning "putting/arranging something together" quite transparent.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zusammenstellung?
The noun "Zusammenstellung" is feminine. The correct article is always die. Remember: Nouns ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine (die Zusammenstellung, die Sammlung, die Anordnung).