En 15 secondes
- Formally demanding what you are legally entitled to receive.
- Commonly used for insurance, refunds, and legal disputes.
- Signals that you are serious and know your rights.
- Best reserved for professional or official correspondence.
Signification
This phrase is used when you officially demand something you are legally or contractually entitled to. It is like saying, 'I have a right to this, and I am formally asking for it now.'
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Dealing with a flight delay
Nach der dreistündigen Verspätung werde ich meine Ansprüche geltend machen.
After the three-hour delay, I will assert my claims.
Insurance claim after a car accident
Mein Anwalt wird die Ansprüche bei der Versicherung geltend machen.
My lawyer will assert the claims with the insurance company.
Texting a friend about a bad hotel
Das Hotel war furchtbar, ich werde definitiv Ansprüche geltend machen!
The hotel was terrible; I'm definitely going to assert my claims!
Contexte culturel
This expression is deeply rooted in the German legalistic mindset where 'Recht haben' (being right) and 'Recht bekommen' (getting justice) are distinct concepts. It highlights the importance of formal procedures in German society, where a verbal agreement often carries less weight than a 'geltend gemacht' claim in writing.
The 'Written' Rule
In Germany, you almost always 'machen Ansprüche geltend' in writing (per E-Mail or Brief). Doing it verbally is rarely enough for it to be 'official'.
Don't scare your friends
If you use this with friends, they will think you are suing them. Only use it casually if you are clearly joking.
En 15 secondes
- Formally demanding what you are legally entitled to receive.
- Commonly used for insurance, refunds, and legal disputes.
- Signals that you are serious and know your rights.
- Best reserved for professional or official correspondence.
What It Means
Think of Ansprüche geltend machen as your legal 'power move.' It is not just asking for a favor. It is about stating that you have a right to something. Usually, this involves money, compensation, or a specific service. You are essentially telling someone, 'The law or our contract says you owe me this.' It sounds serious because it is. You are not just complaining; you are initiating a process.
How To Use It
You will mostly see this in written German. It uses the verb machen combined with the adjective geltend. This means 'to make valid' or 'to enforce.' You can use it with insurance companies, airlines, or employers. If your flight is canceled, you machen Ansprüche geltend. If someone hits your car, your lawyer will Ansprüche geltend machen. It is a heavy-duty expression for heavy-duty situations.
When To Use It
Use this when things go wrong and there is paperwork involved. It is perfect for professional emails. Use it when an online shop sends you a broken vase. Use it when your boss forgets to pay your overtime. It signals that you know your rights. It makes you sound like someone who shouldn't be messed with. Even in a casual setting, using it can be a funny way to sound overly dramatic.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for small, personal favors. If your friend owes you five euros for a pizza, do not say you are Ansprüche geltend machen. That would be incredibly weird and might end the friendship. Avoid it in casual conversations unless you are being sarcastic. It is too stiff for a cozy dinner party. If you just want a refill on your coffee, stick to a simple 'bitte.'
Cultural Background
Germany is often called the land of 'Versicherungen' (insurances) and 'Bürokratie' (bureaucracy). Germans love to know exactly what they are entitled to. This phrase is the backbone of that culture. It reflects a society that values rules and legal clarity. There is even a specific 'Rechtsschutzversicherung' (legal expenses insurance) that many Germans have just so they can Ansprüche geltend machen without worrying about costs.
Common Variations
You might hear einen Anspruch erheben. This is very similar but sounds slightly more like a declaration. Another one is auf sein Recht pochen. This means 'to insist on one's rights' and is more about the attitude than the formal process. If you want to sound less like a lawyer, you could just say etwas fordern (to demand something). But for that sweet insurance money, stick to the original phrase!
Notes d'usage
This is a high-register collocation. Use it in business, legal, or formal customer service contexts. Avoid in intimate or relaxed social settings unless for comedic effect.
The 'Written' Rule
In Germany, you almost always 'machen Ansprüche geltend' in writing (per E-Mail or Brief). Doing it verbally is rarely enough for it to be 'official'.
Don't scare your friends
If you use this with friends, they will think you are suing them. Only use it casually if you are clearly joking.
The 'Frist' Secret
When you assert claims, always include a 'Frist' (deadline). It makes the phrase twice as powerful in German bureaucracy.
Exemples
6Nach der dreistündigen Verspätung werde ich meine Ansprüche geltend machen.
After the three-hour delay, I will assert my claims.
A classic use case for airline compensation.
Mein Anwalt wird die Ansprüche bei der Versicherung geltend machen.
My lawyer will assert the claims with the insurance company.
Using a third party (lawyer) to handle the formality.
Das Hotel war furchtbar, ich werde definitiv Ansprüche geltend machen!
The hotel was terrible; I'm definitely going to assert my claims!
Using formal language in a text to show how angry you are.
Du hast mir ein Bier versprochen – ich mache hiermit meine Ansprüche geltend!
You promised me a beer – I am hereby asserting my claims!
Using 'legalese' for a trivial matter to be funny.
Wir müssen prüfen, ob wir hier Ansprüche geltend machen können.
We need to check if we can assert claims here.
Discussing legal options in a business context.
Es geht mir nicht ums Geld, ich will nur meine Ansprüche geltend machen.
It's not about the money; I just want to assert my claims.
Focusing on the principle of what is owed.
Teste-toi
Complete the formal email sentence.
Da die Ware beschädigt ankam, möchte ich hiermit meine ___ geltend machen.
`Ansprüche` is the correct noun to pair with `geltend machen` in a legal/formal context.
Which verb completes the phrase?
Sie sollten Ihre Rechte so schnell wie möglich geltend ___.
The fixed collocation is `geltend machen`.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality Scale of Demanding Rights
Asking a friend for something back.
Gib mir das bitte zurück.
Standard request for a refund.
Ich möchte mein Geld zurück.
Official legal demand.
Ansprüche geltend machen
Where to use 'Ansprüche geltend machen'
Airline
Flight delays
Insurance
Damage reports
Workplace
Unpaid wages
E-Commerce
Broken deliveries
Banque d exercices
2 exercicesDa die Ware beschädigt ankam, möchte ich hiermit meine ___ geltend machen.
`Ansprüche` is the correct noun to pair with `geltend machen` in a legal/formal context.
Sie sollten Ihre Rechte so schnell wie möglich geltend ___.
The fixed collocation is `geltend machen`.
🎉 Score : /2
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIt comes from 'gelten' (to be valid). So, 'geltend machen' literally means 'to make something valid' in the eyes of the law.
Yes, if the store is refusing to help, you can say Ich möchte meine Gewährleistungsansprüche geltend machen to sound very official.
No, it can be for anything you have a right to, like vacation days at work or a repair of a product.
It is professional, not necessarily aggressive. It shows you are serious about your legal rights.
Yes, Rechte geltend machen is also common and means asserting your rights rather than specific claims.
Fordern is just 'to demand.' Ansprüche geltend machen implies that the demand is backed by a legal foundation.
Not at all! You can use it in your own emails to customer service to show you know the terminology.
In casual speech, people just say Ich will mein Recht. There is no short version of the formal phrase.
Using the wrong verb, like Ansprüche machen (without 'geltend'). It sounds incomplete and wrong.
You would say: Ich habe meine Ansprüche geltend gemacht.
Expressions liées
Auf sein Recht pochen
To insist on one's rights (often stubbornly)
Einen Anspruch erheben
To lay claim to something
Schadenersatz fordern
To demand compensation for damages
Rechtliche Schritte einleiten
To take legal action
