fertility
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fertility
The ability of humans, animals, or plants to produce offspring. In relation to land or soil, it refers to the ability to produce rich harvests.
Die Fruchtbarkeit des Nilschlamms ermöglichte die frühe ägyptische Hochkultur.
The fertility of the Nile silt made the early Egyptian high culture possible.
fertility
(Figurative) The ability to be creative and productive; richness in ideas or results.
Die künstlerische Fruchtbarkeit des Autors in seinen späten Jahren war erstaunlich.
The author's artistic fertility in his later years was astonishing.
The word is built in several steps: The noun 'die Frucht' (fruit) becomes the adjective 'fruchtbar' (fertile) with the ending '-bar'. From this adjective, the noun 'die Fruchtbarkeit' (fertility) is formed with the ending '-keit'.
Ein fruchtbarer Boden bringt eine gute Ernte.
Fertile soil produces a good harvest.
In the biological meaning, 'Fruchtbarkeit' (fertility) is often used with the genitive to specify what it refers to. Typical examples are 'die Fruchtbarkeit des Bodens' (the fertility of the soil) or 'die Fruchtbarkeit einer Frau' (a woman's fertility).
Die Bauern nutzen spezielle Methoden, um die Fruchtbarkeit des Bodens zu erhalten.
The farmers use special methods to preserve the fertility of the soil.
You can often recognize the figurative meaning from adjectives like 'künstlerisch' (artistic), 'geistig' (intellectual/spiritual), or 'intellektuell' (intellectual). In this context, the word describes the productivity of ideas or creative works.
Die geistige Fruchtbarkeit des Wissenschaftlers war beeindruckend.
The scientist's intellectual fertility was impressive.
productivity
When referring to a creative person, both words can suggest a wealth of ideas and results. Produktivität emphasizes more how much or how efficiently someone produces within a certain period of time, while Fruchtbarkeit emphasizes the richness of ideas and results. Depending on the focus, one word or the other is therefore more appropriate.
Die Fruchtbarkeit der Autorin zeigte sich in ihren vielen neuen Ideen für Romane.
The author's creative fertility was evident in her many new ideas for novels.
Die Produktivität der Autorin stieg, weil sie jeden Morgen konzentriert schrieb.
The author's productivity increased because she wrote with focus every morning.
