die
Zuständigkeit
🏛️ What does 'die Zuständigkeit' mean?
Die Zuständigkeit (feminine) describes the area for which a person or institution is responsible or has the authority to make decisions or carry out tasks. It's about who is responsible for what, who is allowed or required to decide.
It can often be translated as area of responsibility, competence, authority, or jurisdiction. It's frequently used in legal, administrative, and professional contexts.
⚠️ It's important not to confuse Zuständigkeit (who may/must act?) with Verantwortung (who is liable for the consequences?), even though they often coincide.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-keit → always feminine.
🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Zuständigkeit
The noun 'Zuständigkeit' is feminine. The article is die. It declines as follows:
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zuständigkeit |
| Genitive | der | Zuständigkeit |
| Dative | der | Zuständigkeit |
| Accusative | die | Zuständigkeit |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Zuständigkeiten |
| Genitive | der | Zuständigkeiten |
| Dative | den | Zuständigkeiten |
| Accusative | die | Zuständigkeiten |
📝 Example Sentences
- Das fällt nicht in meine Zuständigkeit.
(That doesn't fall within my area of responsibility.) - Die Zuständigkeit für dieses Projekt liegt bei Frau Müller.
(The responsibility/competence for this project lies with Ms. Müller.) - Es gab Streitigkeiten über die verschiedenen Zuständigkeiten der Abteilungen.
(There were disputes about the different responsibilities/jurisdictions of the departments.) - Die Klärung der Zuständigkeit ist der erste Schritt.
(Clarifying the jurisdiction/responsibility is the first step.)
💡 How 'Zuständigkeit' is used
The term 'Zuständigkeit' is primarily found in formal contexts:
- Law & Administration: Here, it clearly defines which court, authority, or official is competent for a specific case or task (e.g., örtliche Zuständigkeit - local jurisdiction, sachliche Zuständigkeit - subject-matter jurisdiction).
- Professional Life: In companies and organizations, Zuständigkeit determines who is responsible for which tasks, areas, or decisions. Clear responsibilities help to avoid friction.
- Everyday Language: Less common, but you might hear it in everyday life when discussing who is responsible for something (e.g., „Wer hat hier die Zuständigkeit für die Kaffeemaschine?“ – "Who has responsibility for the coffee machine here?" – rather humorously).
Distinction from 'Verantwortung': While Zuständigkeit often describes the formal authority or task, Verantwortung (responsibility) emphasizes more the duty to answer for the results or consequences.
🧠 Mnemonics for Zuständigkeit
Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -keit (like Möglichkeit - possibility, Fröhlichkeit - happiness) are almost always feminine in German. So: die Fähigkeit, die Heiterkeit, die Zuständigkeit!
Meaning Mnemonic: Think "Where does this task 'stand' (stehen)? To (zu) whom does it belong?". The task 'stands with' the person/office that is zuständig (competent/responsible). That's their Zuständigkeit.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Kompetenz: Competence, expertise, authority.
- Befugnis: Authority, power, right.
- Verantwortungsbereich: Area of responsibility.
- Aufgabenbereich: Scope of duties, remit.
- (In law) Jurisdiktion: Jurisdiction.
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Unzuständigkeit: Lack of jurisdiction, incompetence (formal).
- Inkompetenz: Incompetence (lack of skill or authority).
- Befugnislosigkeit: Lack of authority/authorization.
⚠️ Be careful: Similar-sounding words like Umständlichkeit (cumbersomeness, complexity) have completely different meanings!
😂 A Little Joke
Warum streiten sich zwei Beamte nie lange?
Weil schnell geklärt wird, wer nicht zuständig ist!
(Why do two civil servants never argue for long?
Because it's quickly clarified who is not responsible/competent!)
📜 A Little Poem
Im Amt, da fragt man hin und her,
Wessen Zuständigkeit ist's, bitte sehr?
Formular A, Abteilung B,
Ach, das tut uns wirklich leid, ade!
Doch irgendwo, ganz ohne Streit,
Gibt's für alles eine Zuständigkeit.
(In the office, they ask back and forth,
Whose responsibility/jurisdiction is it, please tell?
Form A, Department B,
Oh, we're truly sorry, farewell!
But somewhere, without any fight,
For everything, there's a competence held tight.)
🧩 Riddle Time
Ich bin ein Bereich, klar definiert,
Wo deine Aufgabe residiert.
Im Amt, im Job, bin ich das A und O,
Wer für was sorgt, das sag ich dir so.
Hab ich dich nicht, bist du nicht dran,
Obwohl du's vielleicht besser kannst.
Wie heiße ich?
(I am an area, clearly defined,
Where your task resides.
In the office, on the job, I'm essential, you know,
Who takes care of what, I clearly show.
If I don't cover you, it's not your turn,
Even though you might better learn.
What's my name?)
Solution: die Zuständigkeit (responsibility/jurisdiction/competence)
📎 Other Information
Word Composition: 'Zuständigkeit' derives from the adjective zuständig (responsible, competent), which in turn comes from zustand (in the older sense of 'to be due', 'to appertain'). The ending -keit is a common suffix used to form abstract nouns from adjectives in German.
The concept is central to the functioning of organizations and legal systems as it provides clarity and order (at least in theory 😉).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Zuständigkeit?
The word 'Zuständigkeit' is feminine. The correct article is die Zuständigkeit. The plural is die Zuständigkeiten.