Why does the noun Verantwortung have the article die?

Nouns ending in -ung are always feminine. Look at the bolded -ung in the noun above — that suffix is the giveaway.

Examples

die Zeitung (newspaper), die Wohnung (apartment), die Bildung (education), die Hoffnung (hope), die Übung (exercise), die Meinung (opinion), die Erfahrung (experience)

Exceptions

der Sprung (jump), der Schwung (momentum) - these are verb stems, not the -ung suffix

Declension table for German noun Verantwortung

How it changes across the four cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativdie Verantwortungeine Verantwortungkeine Verantwortung
Akkusativdie Verantwortungeine Verantwortungkeine Verantwortung
Dativder Verantwortungeiner Verantwortungkeiner Verantwortung
Genitivder Verantwortungeiner Verantwortungkeiner Verantwortung

Examples in context

Real sentences using Verantwortung in different cases.

CaseDefiniteIndefiniteNegative
Nominativ
Die ganze Verantwortung liegt bei dir.The whole responsibility lies with you.
Eine große Verantwortung ist eine Ehre.A great responsibility is an honor.
Keine neue Verantwortung ist mir zu groß.No new responsibility is too big for me.
Akkusativ
Er übernimmt die volle Verantwortung.He takes full responsibility.
Sie trägt eine große Verantwortung.She carries a great responsibility.
Ich übernehme keine rechtliche Verantwortung dafür.I take no legal responsibility for that.
Dativ
Mit der großen Verantwortung wächst die Erfahrung.With the great responsibility comes experience.
Sie stellt sich einer neuen Verantwortung.She is facing a new responsibility.
Mit keiner ernsten Verantwortung geht er leichtfertig um.He doesn't deal carelessly with any serious responsibility.
Genitiv
Das Gewicht der großen Verantwortung ist enorm.The weight of the great responsibility is enormous.
Trotz einer enormen Verantwortung bleibt sie ruhig.Despite an enormous responsibility, she remains calm.
Wegen keiner persönlichen Verantwortung hat er gekündigt.He did not quit because of any personal responsibility.

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Frequently asked questions

Everything you might wonder about der, die, das — and the Der Artikel app.

Is it der, die, or das Verantwortung?

It is die Verantwortung. In German, every noun has a grammatical gender, and Verantwortung is feminine. You should always learn the article together with the noun to ensure your German grammar is correct.

What CEFR level is the word Verantwortung?

The German noun Verantwortung is categorized as Intermediate (B1) vocabulary. It is considered an essential word for learners at this level.

What is the plural of die Verantwortung?

The plural form of die Verantwortung is die Verantwortungen. In German, regardless of the singular gender, all plural nouns use the definite article “die.”

What does die Verantwortung mean in English?

The German word die Verantwortung translates to “responsibility” in English.

How do you decline die Verantwortung?

Like all German nouns, Verantwortung changes its article depending on the case. In the singular, the forms are:
  • Nominativ: die Verantwortung
  • Akkusativ: die Verantwortung
  • Dativ: der Verantwortung
  • Genitiv: der Verantwortung

These changes are necessary because German uses cases to indicate the noun’s role in a sentence (such as the subject or object). Knowing these forms allows you to build grammatically correct sentences.