noun

der Anspruch, ¨-e

claim · requirement

Das ist das Recht, etwas zu bekommen oder zu fordern.

Definition & meaning

Anspruch is a masculine German noun: der Anspruch. Its plural is die Ansprüche.

It has several related meanings:

Entitlement or legal claim
An Anspruch is a right to receive something, especially according to a law, contract, or agreement.
- Sie hat Anspruch auf Urlaub. — She is entitled to vacation.
- Der Anspruch auf Schadensersatz ist berechtigt. — The claim for compensation is justified.
Demand, expectation, or standard
It can describe what someone expects or demands from a person, situation, or product.
- Er stellt hohe Ansprüche an sich selbst. — He sets high standards for himself.
- Das Buch erfüllt meine Ansprüche nicht. — The book does not meet my expectations or standards.
Level of sophistication or difficulty
In this sense, Anspruch refers to the intellectual, artistic, or technical demands of something.
- Der Film ist anspruchsvoll. — The film is sophisticated or demanding.
- Die Aufgabe hat einen hohen Anspruch. — The task is highly demanding.
Use or demand on something in the expression “in Anspruch nehmen”
The fixed expression in Anspruch nehmen means to use, occupy, or require something, especially time, energy, or a service.
- Die Reparatur nimmt viel Zeit in Anspruch. — The repair takes a lot of time.
- Sie nahm seine Hilfe in Anspruch. — She made use of his help.

Grammar & Word origin

Gender: masculine — der Anspruch
Plural: die Ansprüche
Common constructions:
- Anspruch auf etwas haben — to be entitled to something
- Ansprüche an jemanden oder etwas stellen — to have or impose demands on someone or something
- etwas in Anspruch nehmen — to use or require something
- seinen Anspruch geltend machen — to assert or enforce one’s claim

The word consists historically of an- and Spruch. The element Spruch means a saying, pronouncement, or judgment and is related to the verb sprechen (). Thus, Anspruch originally carried the idea of formally stating or asserting a claim.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

Forderung — a demand or claim. It is often stronger and more active than Anspruch, which can refer simply to an existing entitlement.
Recht — a right or entitlement. This is close to the legal meaning of Anspruch, but Recht is broader and can refer to a general right rather than a specific claim.
Berechtigung — authorization or entitlement. It emphasizes being legally or officially entitled to something.
Erwartung — expectation. This is closer to the sense of a personal or social standard, but it does not necessarily imply a legally valid claim.
Anforderung — requirement or demand. It usually describes what must be fulfilled, especially in a task, job, or examination.

Antonyms and contrasts

There is no single exact antonym for Anspruch. Depending on the meaning, possible contrasts include:

Verzicht — renunciation or waiver; giving up a claim or entitlement.
Anspruchslosigkeit — having few demands or expectations; the opposite of having high standards.
Genügsamkeit — modesty or contentment with little, contrasting with demanding a lot.
Pflicht — an obligation or duty. In legal contexts, it can contrast with an Anspruch: one party has a claim, while another party has the corresponding duty.