insurance / assurance
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insurance
A contract with a company in which you regularly pay money in order to be financially protected in case of damage or loss, for example in the event of an accident, illness, or theft.
Für mein neues Auto habe ich eine Vollkaskoversicherung abgeschlossen.
I took out fully comprehensive insurance for my new car.
insurance company
The company that offers insurance contracts.
Er arbeitet als Kundenberater bei einer großen deutschen Versicherung.
He works as a customer advisor at a large German insurance company.
assurance
A firm promise or assurance that something is true or will be done.
Er gab mir die Versicherung, dass er sich persönlich um die Angelegenheit kümmern würde.
He gave me his assurance that he would personally take care of the matter.
The noun 'die Versicherung' (the insurance/assurance) is derived from the verb 'versichern' (to insure/assure). 'Jemanden versichern' means to give someone insurance, while 'jemandem etwas versichern' means to assure someone of something firmly. This double meaning of the verb explains the different meanings of the noun.
Er versicherte mir, dass alles in Ordnung sei.
He assured me that everything was all right.
You can recognize the meaning from the context: If it is about contracts and money, it means protection against damage or loss (m01). If it refers to a company where someone works or that someone calls, it means the company (m02). In connection with a promise, often with 'dass...' (that...), it means an assurance (m03).
Ich muss meine Versicherung anrufen, um den Schaden zu melden.
I have to call my insurance company to report the damage.
In connection with an insurance contract, certain verbs are very typical. You can 'eine Versicherung abschließen' (take out insurance/start a contract), 'eine Versicherung kündigen' (cancel/end insurance), or 'eine Versicherung haben' (have insurance).
Jeder Autobesitzer muss eine Haftpflichtversicherung abschließen.
Every car owner must take out liability insurance.
The word 'Versicherung' is the base word for many specific types of insurance. Examples are 'Krankenversicherung' (health insurance), 'Autoversicherung' (car insurance), 'Reiseversicherung' (travel insurance), or 'Haftpflichtversicherung' (liability insurance).
In Deutschland ist eine Krankenversicherung für alle Bürger Pflicht.
In Germany, health insurance is mandatory for all citizens.
In the meaning 'Zusage' (promise/assurance), 'Versicherung' is often used with a subordinate clause introduced by 'dass' (that). This clause explains exactly what is being assured or promised.
Ich brauche Ihre Versicherung, dass die Daten vertraulich behandelt werden.
I need your assurance that the data will be treated confidentially.
to promise
Versprechen and Versicherung can both express an emphatic statement about future action. Versprechen emphasizes personal commitment, whereas Versicherung can also simply reaffirm a firm intention or the truth of something. For one's own pledge, versprechen is usually the better choice; for a reassuring assertion, Versicherung.
Seine Versicherung, morgen pünktlich zu kommen, beruhigte seine Kollegin.
His assurance that he would arrive on time tomorrow reassured his colleague.
Ich verspreche dir, dass ich morgen pünktlich komme.
I promise you that I'll arrive on time tomorrow.
