das Wählen
choosing
Choosing one of several options or people.
EXAMPLE
Das Wählen des richtigen Geschenks fiel ihr schwer.
Choosing the right gift was difficult for her.
das Wählen
choosing / voting / dialing
das Wählen
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Meanings
das Wählen
voting
Casting a vote in an election to choose a person or party.
EXAMPLE
Das Wählen ist bei dieser Wahl auch per Brief möglich.
Voting in this election is also possible by mail.
das Wählen
dialing
Entering a telephone number on a phone in order to establish a connection.
EXAMPLE
Bei alten Wählscheibentelefonen dauerte das Wählen einer Nummer ziemlich lange.
On old rotary phones, dialing a number took quite a long time.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Wählen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Wählens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Wählen | – |
| accusative | das Wählen | – |
| dative | dem Wählen | – |
| genitive | des Wählens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Nominalized infinitive
“Das Wählen” (choosing/voting/dialing) is a nominalized infinitive and refers to the action itself. As with a verb, it can be followed by a complement, for example in the pattern “das Wählen eines Geschenks” (choosing a gift) or “das Wählen zwischen mehreren Möglichkeiten” (choosing between several options). In combination with “bei” (during/when), “beim Wählen” (when choosing/voting/dialing) is often used.
EXAMPLE
Beim Wählen eines Geschenks sollte man die Interessen der Person berücksichtigen.
When choosing a gift, you should consider the person's interests.
Between several options
In the meaning “eine Entscheidung treffen” (to make a decision), “das Wählen” (choosing) is often used with “zwischen” (between) and two or more options. The object being chosen can also be introduced with “das Wählen von” (choosing from).
EXAMPLE
Beim Wählen zwischen zwei Angeboten sollte man auch auf die Kosten achten.
When choosing between two offers, you should also consider the costs.
Election context
Words such as “Partei” (party), “Kandidat” (candidate), “Stimme” (vote), “Wahllokal” (polling station), or “Briefwahl” (postal voting) usually indicate that “das Wählen” (voting) refers to casting a political vote.
EXAMPLE
Beim Wählen im Wahllokal musste sie ihren Ausweis vorzeigen.
When voting at the polling station, she had to show her ID.
Telephone context
When words such as “Nummer” (number), “Telefon” (telephone), “Taste” (button), or “Verbindung” (connection) appear with “das Wählen” (dialing), it refers to entering a telephone number. The expressions “das Wählen einer Nummer” (dialing a number) and “beim Wählen einer Nummer” (when dialing a number) are typical.
EXAMPLE
Beim Wählen der Telefonnummer vertippte er sich zweimal.
He mistyped the phone number twice while dialing it.
In real life
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