state of emergency / emergency
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state of emergency
A serious dangerous situation for a country or region, for example due to a natural disaster or political unrest, in which the government receives special powers to restore order.
Wegen der schweren Überschwemmungen hat die Regierung den Notstand ausgerufen.
Because of the severe flooding, the government declared a state of emergency.
emergency / hardship
A situation of great personal or financial need and distress.
Nach dem Verlust seines Arbeitsplatzes befand er sich in einem finanziellen Notstand.
After losing his job, he found himself in a financial emergency.
necessity
A legal term for a situation in which a person commits an unlawful act in order to avert an immediate danger to themselves or others that cannot be prevented in any other way.
Der Angeklagte berief sich auf den rechtfertigenden Notstand, da er die Tür aufbrechen musste, um das Kind aus dem brennenden Haus zu retten.
The defendant invoked justifying necessity because he had to break open the door to rescue the child from the burning house.
The word consists of 'die Not' (distress, danger) and 'der Stand' (state, condition). A 'Notstand' (state of emergency / emergency) is therefore literally a state of need or danger.
Wegen der Dürre herrscht in der Region ein landwirtschaftlicher Notstand.
Because of the drought, there is an agricultural emergency in the region.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: If it is about a country, a disaster, and the government, it refers to a political state of emergency. If it is about a person and money, it means personal hardship. If it is about a court or a criminal offense, the legal term is meant.
Die Armee hilft bei der Versorgung der Bevölkerung während des Notstands.
The army is helping supply the population during the state of emergency.
In a political context, 'Notstand' (state of emergency) is often combined with certain verbs. A government can 'ausrufen' (declare), 'verhängen' (impose), or 'aufheben' (lift) a state of emergency.
Nach dem Erdbeben wurde der nationale Notstand ausgerufen.
After the earthquake, a national state of emergency was declared.
When a personal emergency is meant, the preposition 'in' is often used. You can say 'in einen Notstand geraten' (to fall into an emergency / hardship) or 'sich in einem Notstand befinden' (to be in an emergency / hardship).
Nach der Kündigung befand sie sich in einem ernsten Notstand.
After being dismissed, she found herself in a serious emergency.
This meaning is a term from legal language. A typical formulation in this context is that someone 'sich auf den Notstand beruft' (invokes necessity) in order to justify an act.
Vor Gericht berief sich der Fahrer auf einen Notstand, weil er eine verletzte Person ins Krankenhaus fuhr.
In court, the driver invoked necessity because he was driving an injured person to the hospital.
emergency
Notfall and Notstand both refer to serious problems, but they emphasize different aspects. Notfall is used especially in organizational terms for an acute situation, while Notstand can also mean ongoing personal or financial hardship. Notfall is appropriate for a prepared plan, while Notstand is appropriate for severe hardship.
Nach mehreren Monaten ohne Einkommen geriet die Familie in einen persönlichen Notstand.
After several months without an income, the family found itself in severe personal hardship.
Der Notfallplan beschreibt, was die Mitarbeitenden bei einem plötzlichen Unfall tun sollen.
The emergency plan describes what the employees should do in the event of a sudden accident.
