die Ladung
cargo
The total amount of goods or merchandise transported by a vehicle such as a truck, ship, or airplane.
EXAMPLE
Der LKW verlor auf der Autobahn einen Teil seiner Ladung.
The truck lost part of its cargo on the highway.
die Ladung
cargo / charge / summons
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Meanings
die Ladung
charge
The amount of electrical energy stored in an object, for example a battery or a capacitor.
EXAMPLE
Die Ladung des Akkus reicht nur noch für zehn Minuten.
The battery's charge is only enough for ten more minutes.
die Ladung
summons
An official written request to appear in court or before an authority.
EXAMPLE
Er erhielt eine Ladung als Zeuge für den kommenden Prozess.
He received a summons as a witness for the upcoming trial.
die Ladung
charge
The explosive material in a cartridge, grenade, or bomb.
EXAMPLE
Die Patrone enthält eine Treibladung aus Schwarzpulver.
The cartridge contains a propellant charge made of black powder.
die Ladung
load
Colloquial term for a very large amount of something.
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende wartet eine ganze Ladung Hausarbeit auf mich.
A whole load of housework is waiting for me this weekend.
Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'die Ladung' (cargo/charge/summons) is derived from the verb 'laden' (to load/charge). The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a feminine noun that describes the result or process of loading or charging.
EXAMPLE
Das Laden des LKW dauert eine Stunde; die Ladung ist sehr schwer.
Loading the truck takes an hour; the cargo is very heavy.
Meaning from context
The meaning of 'Ladung' (cargo/charge/summons) can almost always be understood from the surrounding words. In transport contexts (truck, ship), it refers to goods; in technology (rechargeable battery, battery), it refers to electricity; and in law (court, witness), it refers to a summons.
EXAMPLE
Der Kapitän überwachte das Löschen der Ladung im Hafen.
The captain supervised the unloading of the cargo in the harbor.
Typical collocations: transport
In transportation, 'Ladung' (cargo) is often combined with verbs such as 'sichern' (to secure), 'löschen' (to unload), 'transportieren' (to transport), or 'verlieren' (to lose).
EXAMPLE
Der Fahrer muss die Ladung vor der Abfahrt gut sichern.
The driver must secure the cargo well before departure.
Use in law
In a legal context, you receive a 'Ladung' (summons). Typical phrases are 'eine Ladung erhalten/bekommen' (to receive a summons) or 'einer Ladung Folge leisten' (to comply with a summons).
EXAMPLE
Als Zeugin erhielt sie eine Ladung vor Gericht.
As a witness, she received a summons to appear in court.
Colloquial use
In colloquial language, 'eine Ladung' (a load) can also simply mean 'eine große Menge' (a large amount), often of something unpleasant. Typical phrases are 'eine Ladung Arbeit' (a load of work) or 'eine Ladung Probleme' (a load of problems).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Urlaub wartete eine ganze Ladung E-Mails auf mich.
After the vacation, a whole load of emails was waiting for me.
Compare with
Ladung vs Menge
amount / crowd
Menge refers neutrally to quantity. Ladung can also colloquially mean a very large amount, but expresses it more vividly as a whole load. Menge is appropriate for a factual statement; in a casual, emphatic statement, Ladung may be a better fit.
Ladung
Für den Umzug brauchen wir eine ganze Ladung Kartons.
For the move, we need a whole load of boxes.
Menge
Für den Umzug brauchen wir eine große Menge Kartons.
For the move, we need a large number of boxes.
In real life
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