Führung en 30 secondes
- Führung is a feminine noun meaning leadership, management, or a guided tour, essential for business and tourism.
- In sports and competitions, it specifically refers to being in the lead or holding the first position.
- Common compounds include Stadtführung (city tour) and Führungskraft (executive), showing its versatility in German.
- Grammatically, it is always 'die Führung' and follows standard feminine declension patterns in all German cases.
The German noun Führung is a multifaceted term that primarily translates to 'leadership', 'management', or 'guided tour'. At its core, it derives from the verb führen (to lead, to guide, to conduct). In a professional context, it refers to the act of managing a company or a team. In a cultural or touristic context, it refers to an organized tour where an expert guides a group through a museum, a city, or a historical site. Furthermore, in sports or competitions, it denotes the position of being in the lead. Understanding 'Führung' requires recognizing which of these three pillars—professional leadership, physical guidance, or competitive advantage—is being addressed.
- Professional Context
- Refers to the management level of an organization (die Unternehmensführung) or the quality of leadership provided by a supervisor.
- Touristic Context
- A 'Stadtführung' or 'Museumsführung' involves a guide explaining facts to a group.
- Competitive Context
- Being 'in Führung liegen' means being ahead of others in a race or game.
Die Führung durch das historische Museum dauert etwa eine Stunde und ist sehr informativ.
Historically, the word has deep roots in Germanic languages, evolving from the concept of 'moving' or 'carrying' (related to fahren). In modern German, while the word 'Führer' (leader) is used with extreme caution due to its historical association with Adolf Hitler, the noun 'Führung' remains the standard, neutral, and widely used term for leadership and management. It is an essential word for anyone working in a German-speaking environment or traveling through the DACH region.
Unter seiner Führung hat das Unternehmen seinen Umsatz verdoppelt.
Unsere Mannschaft liegt zur Halbzeit mit 2:0 in Führung.
- Synonyms for Tour
- Rundgang, Besichtigung, Geleit.
- Synonyms for Management
- Leitung, Management, Direktion, Vorstand.
Die Führung eines Teams erfordert viel Empathie und klare Kommunikation.
Möchten Sie an einer Führung durch die Altstadt teilnehmen?
- Abstract Usage
- The 'Führung' of a diary (Tagebuchführung) or keeping records.
Using Führung correctly depends heavily on the preposition and the compound noun structure. As a feminine noun, its declension is straightforward: die Führung (nominative), der Führung (genitive/dative), die Führung (accusative). In the plural, it becomes die Führungen. When talking about a guided tour, you 'take part in' (teilnehmen an + dative) a Führung. When talking about leadership, you are 'under the leadership' (unter der Führung + genitive/dative) of someone.
Compound nouns are extremely common with this word. For example, Stadtführung (city tour), Unternehmensführung (corporate management), Personalführung (human resources management), and Marktführung (market leadership). Notice how the meaning shifts slightly but always retains the core idea of 'being at the front' or 'showing the way'.
Wir haben uns für eine Führung in meiner Muttersprache angemeldet.
In sports, the phrase 'in Führung gehen' (to take the lead) or 'die Führung ausbauen' (to extend the lead) is essential. If you are watching a football match and Germany scores first, the commentator will shout: 'Deutschland geht in Führung!' This usage is very dynamic and implies movement into a top position.
In professional writing, you will often see 'Führungskräfte' (executives/managers). This is the standard term for people in leadership positions. Avoid using 'Führer' in a business context as it sounds archaic and carries heavy historical baggage. Stick to 'Leiter', 'Manager', or 'Führungskraft'.
You will encounter Führung in three primary environments. First, in the tourism sector. Every major German city offers 'Stadtführungen'. You will see signs at museums saying 'Nächste Führung: 14:00 Uhr'. This is the most common way an A2 learner will use the word. Second, in the business world. During meetings, employees might discuss 'die neue Führung' (the new management) or 'Führungsqualitäten' (leadership qualities). Business news frequently mentions 'Marktführung' when discussing which company dominates a sector.
Third, in sports broadcasting. Whether it's Formula 1, football, or athletics, 'Führung' is the word for being in first place. 'Er liegt seit der ersten Runde in Führung' (He has been in the lead since the first round). You might also hear it in political news regarding the 'Parteiführung' (party leadership) or 'Regierungsführung' (conduct of government).
Die Führung der Verhandlungen war äußerst schwierig.
Lastly, in administrative or technical contexts, you might hear about 'Aktenführung' (record keeping) or 'Kontoführung' (account management/maintenance). Here, the word takes on a more technical meaning of 'maintenance' or 'handling'.
The most significant mistake learners make is using the word 'Führer' when they mean 'Führung' or 'Führungskraft'. While 'Reiseführer' (guidebook or tour guide) is acceptable, using 'Führer' alone to describe a boss or leader is socially and historically problematic in Germany. Always prefer 'Chef', 'Leiter', or 'Führungskraft'.
Another mistake is confusing 'Führung' with 'Leitung'. While often interchangeable, 'Leitung' often refers to the physical head of something (like a pipe or a department head), whereas 'Führung' often implies the *act* or *style* of leading. For example, you have a 'Abteilungsleitung' (head of department), but you discuss their 'Führungsstil' (leadership style).
Learners also struggle with prepositions. It is 'in Führung' (in the lead) but 'unter der Führung' (under the leadership). Using 'auf Führung' or 'bei Führung' is incorrect in these contexts. Additionally, remember that 'Führung' is feminine; saying 'das Führung' is a common gender error.
Several words share semantic space with Führung. Leitung is the closest synonym, often used for 'management' or 'direction'. However, 'Leitung' can also mean 'wire' or 'pipe' (Wasserleitung). Management is a direct loanword from English and is very common in modern corporate German, specifically for administrative tasks.
Guide is used specifically for people who lead tours, though 'Stadtführer' is more traditional. Vorsitz refers to 'chairmanship' (e.g., of a committee). Kommando is used in military or very strict contexts. Herrschaft implies 'dominion' or 'rule', which is much stronger and more political than 'Führung'.
- Führung vs. Leitung
- Führung focuses on the human/strategic element; Leitung focuses on the organizational/structural element.
- Führung vs. Begleitung
- Begleitung is 'accompaniment', which is passive, while Führung is active guidance.
How Formal Is It?
Niveau de difficulté
Grammaire à connaître
Compound Nouns (Nomenkomposita)
Feminine Noun Declension
Prepositions with Dative/Accusative
Genitive Case Usage
Separable Verbs related to 'führen'
Exemples par niveau
Die Führung im Museum ist toll.
The tour in the museum is great.
Feminine noun, nominative case.
Wann ist die nächste Führung?
When is the next tour?
Interrogative sentence.
Ich möchte eine Führung machen.
I want to do a tour.
Accusative case after 'machen'.
Die Führung kostet fünf Euro.
The tour costs five euros.
Subject of the sentence.
Die Führung dauert eine Stunde.
The tour lasts one hour.
Duration expressed with 'dauert'.
Hier beginnt die Führung.
The tour starts here.
Adverb of place 'hier'.
Gibt es eine Führung auf Englisch?
Is there a tour in English?
Prepositional phrase 'auf Englisch'.
Die Führung war sehr interessant.
The tour was very interesting.
Predicate adjective 'interessant'.
Unsere Firma hat eine neue Führung.
Our company has a new management.
Management as a collective noun.
Er liegt im Rennen in Führung.
He is in the lead in the race.
Idiom 'in Führung liegen'.
Die Stadtführung war sehr lang.
The city tour was very long.
Compound noun: Stadt + Führung.
Wer übernimmt die Führung?
Who is taking the lead?
Verb 'übernehmen' with 'Führung'.
Die Führung der Gruppe ist schwierig.
Leading the group is difficult.
Genitive case 'der Gruppe'.
Wir brauchen eine klare Führung.
We need clear leadership.
Adjective 'klare' modifying 'Führung'.
Die Führung durch das Schloss ist teuer.
The tour through the castle is expensive.
Preposition 'durch' + accusative.
Sie hat die Führung im Projekt.
She has the lead in the project.
Preposition 'in' + dative.
Sein Führungsstil ist sehr kooperativ.
His leadership style is very cooperative.
Compound: Führung + s + Stil.
Die Führungskräfte treffen sich heute.
The executives are meeting today.
Plural noun 'Führungskräfte'.
Das Team verlor die Führung kurz vor Schluss.
The team lost the lead shortly before the end.
Verb 'verlieren' (to lose).
Eine gute Führung motiviert die Mitarbeiter.
Good leadership motivates the employees.
Subject-verb agreement.
Die Führung des Tagebuchs ist wichtig.
Keeping the diary is important.
Abstract use: keeping/maintaining.
Er hat keine Erfahrung in der Führung.
He has no experience in leadership.
Dative case after 'in'.
Die Führung des Unternehmens wurde kritisiert.
The management of the company was criticized.
Passive voice.
Wir bieten Führungen für Schulklassen an.
We offer tours for school classes.
Plural 'Führungen'.
Die Marktführung ist unser oberstes Ziel.
Market leadership is our top goal.
Compound: Markt + Führung.
Unter der Führung des Kapitäns blieb alles ruhig.
Under the leadership of the captain, everything remained calm.
Prepositional phrase 'unter der Führung'.
Die politische Führung des Landes ist zerstritten.
The political leadership of the country is divided.
Adjective 'politische'.
Sie übernahm die Führung der Verhandlungen.
She took over the lead of the negotiations.
Genitive 'der Verhandlungen'.
Die Führung eines Beweises ist oft kompliziert.
Providing proof is often complicated.
Technical/Legal use: 'Führung eines Beweises'.
Das Unternehmen baut seine Führung weiter aus.
The company is further expanding its lead.
Separable verb 'ausbauen'.
Die Führung durch die Fabrik war beeindruckend.
The tour through the factory was impressive.
Prepositional object.
Er hat die Führung im Gesamtweltcup übernommen.
He took the lead in the overall World Cup.
Sports terminology.
Die Führung der Geschäfte obliegt dem Vorstand.
The conduct of business is the responsibility of the board.
Formal verb 'obliegen'.
Es mangelt an einer visionären Führung.
There is a lack of visionary leadership.
Dative after 'mangeln an'.
Die Führung des Protokolls wurde ihm übertragen.
The task of keeping the minutes was assigned to him.
Administrative use.
Seine autoritäre Führung stieß auf Widerstand.
His authoritarian leadership met with resistance.
Collocation 'auf Widerstand stoßen'.
Die Führung durch das Labyrinth war verwirrend.
The guidance through the labyrinth was confusing.
Metaphorical use.
Die moralische Führung ist in Krisenzeiten wichtig.
Moral leadership is important in times of crisis.
Abstract concept.
Die Führung der Truppen erforderte strategisches Geschick.
Leading the troops required strategic skill.
Military context.
Wir analysieren die Führung der Debatte.
We are analyzing the conduct of the debate.
Academic context.
Die Führung der Staatsgeschäfte verlangt Integrität.
The conduct of state affairs demands integrity.
High-level political vocabulary.
Die Führung des Orchesters durch den Dirigenten war genial.
The conductor's leading of the orchestra was brilliant.
Artistic context.
Er hinterfragte die geistige Führung der Epoche.
He questioned the intellectual leadership of the era.
Philosophical context.
Die Führung eines Doppellebens ist anstrengend.
Leading a double life is exhausting.
Idiomatic expression.
Die Führung der Beweisaufnahme wurde beanstandet.
The conduct of the taking of evidence was challenged.
Legal terminology.
Die Führung der Feder verrät den Künstler.
The stroke of the pen reveals the artist.
Literary/Metaphorical.
Die Führung der Verhandlungen lag in kompetenten Händen.
The conduct of the negotiations was in competent hands.
Professional idiom.
Sie kritisierte die mangelnde Führung der Diskussion.
She criticized the lack of direction in the discussion.
Abstract noun usage.
Collocations courantes
Phrases Courantes
Souvent confondu avec
Expressions idiomatiques
Facile à confondre
Structures de phrases
Comment l'utiliser
Führung is more about the process; Leitung is more about the position.
Avoid 'Führer' unless it's a compound like 'Bergführer'.
- Saying 'der Führung' instead of 'die Führung'.
- Using 'Führer' for a boss.
- Confusing 'Führung' with 'Anleitung' (instructions).
- Using the wrong preposition: 'auf Führung' instead of 'in Führung'.
- Forgetting the 'h' in the spelling.
Astuces
Gender Tip
All nouns ending in -ung are feminine. This makes 'Führung' easy to remember as 'die'.
Compound Power
Combine 'Führung' with almost any noun to create specific meanings like 'Marktführung'.
Historical Context
Be mindful of the word's history; stick to 'Führung' for leadership.
Tour Phrases
When at a museum, ask: 'Wann ist die nächste Führung?'
Management
Use 'Führungskraft' instead of 'Manager' to sound more native in German offices.
Winning
Use 'in Führung gehen' when your favorite team scores the first goal.
Genitive Use
Use the genitive for formal writing: 'Die Führung des Hauses...' (The management of the house).
Announcements
Listen for 'Führung' in train stations or museums for important info.
Visual Link
Imagine a guide leading a group; that is the 'Führung'.
Leadership Style
Discussing 'Führungsstil' is a great B1/B2 conversation topic.
Mémorise-le
Origine du mot
Contexte culturel
Avoid using 'Führer' alone; always use 'Führung' or compounds.
Guided tours are often very detailed and academic in Germany.
Flat hierarchies are becoming popular, but 'Führung' remains structured.
Pratique dans la vie réelle
Contextes réels
Amorces de conversation
"Haben Sie schon einmal eine Stadtführung in Berlin gemacht?"
"Was macht für Sie eine gute Führung aus?"
"Wer liegt momentan in der Bundesliga in Führung?"
"Wann beginnt die nächste Führung durch das Schloss?"
"Wie ist die Führung in Ihrer Firma organisiert?"
Sujets d'écriture
Beschreibe eine interessante Führung, an der du teilgenommen hast.
Was sind die wichtigsten Qualitäten einer Führungskraft?
Würdest du gerne die Führung eines großen Teams übernehmen? Warum?
Wie fühlst du dich, wenn du in einem Spiel in Führung liegst?
Schreibe über die Führung eines Tagebuchs.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsIn isolation, it is heavily associated with Hitler. Use 'Führung' or compounds like 'Reiseführer' instead.
It is a guided tour through a city, usually led by a local expert.
Yes, 'in Führung liegen' is the standard way to say someone is winning.
No, it can also refer to 'Tagebuchführung' (keeping a diary) or 'Kontoführung'.
It is the German word for a manager or executive.
You say: 'Ich liege in Führung'.
It is always 'die Führung' (feminine).
The plural is 'die Führungen'.
No, that would be 'Anleitung'.
No, 'driving' is 'Fahren', though 'Fahrzeugführung' is a technical term for operating a vehicle.
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Summary
Führung is the universal German word for 'leading'—whether you are leading a company, a group of tourists through a castle, or a race. It is a neutral and professional term that replaces more sensitive words like 'Führer'.
- Führung is a feminine noun meaning leadership, management, or a guided tour, essential for business and tourism.
- In sports and competitions, it specifically refers to being in the lead or holding the first position.
- Common compounds include Stadtführung (city tour) and Führungskraft (executive), showing its versatility in German.
- Grammatically, it is always 'die Führung' and follows standard feminine declension patterns in all German cases.
Gender Tip
All nouns ending in -ung are feminine. This makes 'Führung' easy to remember as 'die'.
Compound Power
Combine 'Führung' with almost any noun to create specific meanings like 'Marktführung'.
Historical Context
Be mindful of the word's history; stick to 'Führung' for leadership.
Tour Phrases
When at a museum, ask: 'Wann ist die nächste Führung?'
Contenu associé
Expressions liées
Plus de mots sur business
Abgabe
B1La remise d'un devoir ou d'un document.
abgleichen
B1Comparer et mettre en accord deux ensembles d'informations pour assurer la cohérence ou rectifier les erreurs.
ablegen
B1Déposer son manteau ou classer des documents.
abrechnen
B1Le comptable doit décompter les frais de déplacement.
Abteilung
A2Une 'Abteilung' est un département ou un service au sein d'une entreprise ou d'un magasin.
abwickeln
B1Gérer, traiter, mener à bien une procédure ou une transaction complexe.
Akte
B1Une collection de documents sur un sujet ou une affaire spécifique ; un dossier.
Aktie
B1Une 'action' est une part de propriété dans une entreprise. Posséder une action signifie devenir copropriétaire de cette société.
Aktionär
A2Un actionnaire est une personne physique ou morale qui détient des actions dans une société anonyme.
Aktionärin
A2Une actionnaire est une femme qui possède des actions dans une société.
