How do you say condition or requirement (Bedingung) in German?

Whether it’s the terms of a contract, the rules of a deal, or just “only if you clean your room” - Germans call it a Bedingung. It’s the word that defines what has to happen before something else can.

The noun Bedingung means condition, requirement, or term, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll find it in contracts, negotiations, computer logic, parenting, and arguments.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Bedingung.

Pronunciation

Bedingung is pronounced approximately [buh-DING-ung], with short u and no separate g in ng.

• The “ding” rhymes with “sing,”
• The ending -ung has a short u as in “put” and ng as in “sing,”
• The stress is on the second syllable: be-DING-ung.

It sounds a little technical, but not stiff - it’s used all the time.

Example sentences:

• Die Bedingung für den Vertrag war klar.The condition for the contract was clear.
• Unter diesen Bedingungen mache ich nicht mit.Under these conditions, I’m not participating.

Nuance and usage tips

Bedingung comes from the verb bedingen - to require or determine. It’s used in many situations:

1. Agreements and contracts
   • Vertragsbedingungen - contract terms
   • Allgemeine Geschäftsbedingungen (AGB) - general terms and conditions
2. Logic or causality
   • notwendige Bedingung - necessary condition
   • unter der Bedingung, dass… - on the condition that…
3. Situations or circumstances
   • Arbeitsbedingungen - working conditions
   • Lebensbedingungen - living conditions

Related words:

• Freiheit - freedom (not an antonym of a contractual condition)
• Erfüllung - fulfillment (a condition can be fulfilled; that does not make the words opposites)

Grammatical case examples: