die Ration
ration
A fixed amount of food, drink, animal feed, or other necessities allocated to someone.
EXAMPLE
Jeder Soldat erhielt pro Tag eine Ration Wasser und Brot.
Each soldier received a daily ration of water and bread.
die Ration
ration
die Ration, die Rationen
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Meanings
jemanden auf halbe Ration setzen
put on half rations
To give someone only a limited amount of something, especially food or money.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Missernte wurden die Bewohner des Dorfes auf halbe Ration gesetzt.
After the crop failure, the villagers were put on half rations.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Ration, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Rationen |
| genitive | der Ration |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Ration | die Rationen |
| accusative | die Ration | die Rationen |
| dative | der Ration | den Rationen |
| genitive | der Ration | der Rationen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Typical contexts
'Ration' (ration) is particularly common in situations where supplies are organized and distributed, for example in the military, during crises, or when feeding animals. It often refers to a fixed amount per day or per person.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des langen Aufenthalts im Gebirge musste jeder Wanderer seine Ration sorgfältig einteilen.
Because of the long stay in the mountains, each hiker had to manage their ration carefully.
Typical collocations
When referring to an allocated amount, 'Ration' (ration) often appears with words specifying the type of supply or the period it covers. Common expressions include 'eine Ration Wasser' (a ration of water), 'eine Tagesration' (a daily ration), and 'Rationen verteilen' (to distribute rations).
EXAMPLE
Im Lager verteilten die Helfer täglich Rationen an die Flüchtlinge.
At the camp, the aid workers distributed rations to the refugees every day.
Fixed expression
In the colloquial expression 'jemanden auf halbe Ration setzen' (to put someone on half rations), the person affected is in the accusative case. There is no article before 'Ration' (ration), only the adjective 'halbe' (half).
EXAMPLE
Als die Vorräte knapp wurden, setzte der Kapitän die ganze Besatzung auf halbe Ration.
When supplies ran low, the captain put the entire crew on half rations.
In real life
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