guarantee / surety
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surety / guarantee
A contract by which someone (the guarantor) agrees to be responsible for another person's debts or obligations if that person cannot pay. This is a form of loan security.
Für den Mietvertrag musste ich eine Bürgschaft meiner Eltern vorlegen.
For the rental contract, I had to provide a guarantee from my parents.
guarantee
In a figurative or elevated sense, a guarantee, pledge, or assurance for something.
Seine langjährige Erfahrung war die beste Bürgschaft für den Erfolg des Projekts.
His many years of experience were the best guarantee of the project's success.
'Die Bürgschaft' (surety/guarantee) belongs to the word family of 'bürgen' (to guarantee) and 'der Bürge' (the person who acts as guarantor). The ending '-schaft' forms an abstract noun here.
Sein Vater bürgt für ihn bei der Bank.
His father acts as guarantor for him at the bank.
A financial 'Bürgschaft' (surety/guarantee) is almost always used with the preposition 'für' and the accusative to say what or whom one is guaranteeing.
Sie hat eine Bürgschaft für die Miete ihrer Tochter übernommen.
She provided a guarantee for her daughter's rent.
In legal and financial contexts, 'Bürgschaft' (surety/guarantee) is often combined with the verbs 'übernehmen' (to take on), 'leisten' (to provide), or 'verlangen' (to require/demand).
Die Bank verlangte für den hohen Kredit eine zusätzliche Bürgschaft.
The bank required an additional guarantee for the large loan.
You can recognize the financial meaning from words like 'Kredit' (loan), 'Miete' (rent), or 'Bank' (bank). The figurative meaning is used with abstract terms like 'Erfolg' (success), 'Qualität' (quality), or 'Zukunft' (future).
Sein guter Ruf ist eine Bürgschaft für seine Zuverlässigkeit.
His good reputation is a guarantee of his reliability.
The figurative meaning of 'Bürgschaft' (guarantee) as a guarantee for something abstract is typical of a formal or literary style.
Die lange Tradition des Unternehmens ist eine Bürgschaft für höchste Qualität.
The company's long tradition is a guarantee of the highest quality.
guarantee
Garantie and Bürgschaft can both express a promise relating to an obligation. Bürgschaft specifically refers to one person taking responsibility for another person’s debts or obligations. Garantie is more general and denotes a firm assurance without naming this particular form.
Die Mutter unterschrieb eine Bürgschaft für den Kredit ihres Sohnes.
The mother signed a surety agreement for her son’s loan.
Die Mutter gab eine Garantie für den Kredit ihres Sohnes.
The mother guaranteed her son’s loan.
