It’s what friends offer, what teams rely on, and what makes tough tasks possible. In German, it’s die Unterstützung. This is your German word of the day, and it’s a key noun for talking about help, encouragement, and backing—whether emotional, financial, or practical.

The noun Unterstützung means support, assistance, or backing, and it’s one of the 1000 most frequently used nouns in German. You’ll hear it in business meetings, social conversations, and even government programs.

It’s a feminine noun, so we say die Unterstützung (want gender to finally make sense? This video lesson will make it stick).

Pronunciation

Unterstützung is pronounced [OON-ter-shtüt-soong].

• Unter like “oon-ter,”

• stütz like “shtoots,” with a short ü,

• ung ends with a soft “oong,”

• Stress is on the third syllable: unter-STÜTZ-ung

It sounds solid and dependable—like a helping hand.

Example sentences:

Danke für deine Unterstützung!
Thanks for your support!

Die Familie braucht finanzielle Unterstützung.
The family needs financial support.

Nuance and usage tips

Unterstützung can refer to all kinds of help:

• Emotional or moral support
  deine Unterstützung in dieser schweren Zeit – your support in this difficult time

• Financial support
  staatliche Unterstützung – government aid

• Practical help
  technische Unterstützung – technical assistance

It’s commonly paired with:

• leisten – Unterstützung leisten (to provide support)

• erhalten – Unterstützung erhalten (to receive support)

• brauchen / bitten um – to need or ask for support

How does this word come up in real conversations?

All the time—especially when asking for help or thanking someone:

“Ohne deine Unterstützung hätte ich das nicht geschafft.” – I couldn’t have done it without your support.
“Wir suchen nach weiterer Unterstützung für unser Projekt.” – We’re looking for more support for our project.

You’ll also see it in fundraising, social services, and job settings.

Sample Dialogue (Beginner Level)

Leo: Kannst du mir bei der Bewerbung helfen?
Mira: Klar, ich biete dir meine Unterstützung an.
Leo: Danke, das bedeutet mir viel.
Mira: Kein Problem – du schaffst das!

Leo: Can you help me with the job application?
Mira: Sure, I’m happy to support you.
Leo: Thanks, that means a lot to me.
Mira: No problem—you’ve got this!

Grammatical case examples:

Nominative:
Die Unterstützung war entscheidend.
The support was crucial.

Accusative:
Ich brauche deine Unterstützung.
I need your support.

Dative:
Mit der Unterstützung des Teams wurde das Projekt ein Erfolg.
With the team's support, the project was a success.

Genitive:
Die Wirkung der Unterstützung war deutlich.
The effect of the support was clear.

Feminine case pattern: die, die, der, der

Word variations and language tidbits

Related expressions:

• finanzielle Unterstützung – financial support

• staatliche Unterstützung – public/government support

• Unterstützungsangebot – support service

• Unterstützungsbedarf – need for support

• Unterstützungsmaßnahme – support measure/program

Cultural note: In Germany, Unterstützung isn’t just about handouts—it’s a serious concept tied to dignity, solidarity, and systems that aim to help people help themselves.

📘 Duden entry
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