fund
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investment fund
An amount of money collected from many investors in order to invest jointly in securities such as stocks or bonds. Such funds are often managed by financial companies.
Er hat sein Geld in einen internationalen Aktienfonds investiert.
He invested his money in an international equity fund.
fund
A collection of means or resources provided for a specific purpose. This can include money, but also other goods.
Die Stiftung verfügt über einen großen Fonds zur Förderung junger Künstler.
The foundation has a large fund to support young artists.
collection / stock
The stock or collection of things that serve as the basis or background for something. This meaning is rarer and is similar to the word 'Fundus' (stock / collection).
Das Museum greift für die Ausstellung auf einen reichen Fonds an historischen Fotografien zurück.
For the exhibition, the museum draws on a rich collection of historical photographs.
The word 'Fonds' (fund) comes from French. This explains why the 's' at the end is not pronounced in the singular. Only in the plural ('die Fonds') does the 's' become audible.
Dieser Fonds investiert hauptsächlich in europäische Staatsanleihen.
This fund invests mainly in European government bonds.
In written form, the singular and plural are identical. You can recognize the difference only by the article and the verb form. 'Der Fonds ist…' (the fund is..., singular) in contrast to 'Die Fonds sind…' (the funds are..., plural).
Der neue Fonds wurde gestern aufgelegt.
The new fund was launched yesterday.
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If it is about investing money, stocks, and returns, an investment fund is meant. If it is about foundations, support programs, or special purposes, it means a pool of resources.
Die Rendite dieses Fonds war im letzten Jahr sehr gut.
The return on this fund was very good last year.
In a financial context, typical verbs are 'in einen Fonds investieren' (to invest in a fund), 'einen Fonds auflegen' (to launch a fund), and 'Fondsanteile kaufen' (to buy fund shares) or 'verkaufen' (to sell fund shares).
Viele Anleger investieren monatlich in einen Sparplan für einen ETF-Fonds.
Many investors invest monthly in a savings plan for an ETF fund.
When a fund is intended for a specific purpose, this is often expressed with the preposition 'für' (for) or 'zur' (for / to support).
Es gibt einen Fonds zur Unterstützung von Kulturschaffenden.
There is a fund to support cultural workers.
pot
Both the fund and the pot can contain money for a specific purpose. Fonds is the neutral term for funds that have been provided. Topf is a figurative expression for a budget and is particularly fitting when talking about where the money comes from or how it is distributed.
Die Stadt richtet einen Fonds für die Renovierung der Schulen ein.
The city is setting up a fund to renovate the schools.
Das Geld für die Renovierung der Schulen kommt aus einem gemeinsamen Topf.
The money for renovating the schools is coming from a shared pot.
