noun

die Aufforderung, -en

request

Eine Bitte oder ein Hinweis, dass jemand etwas tun soll.

Definition & meaning

An Aufforderung is a request, prompt, or call for someone to do something. Depending on the context and tone, it can range from a polite request to a firm instruction or demand.

It can also mean an official notice requiring someone to take an action, such as paying a bill or submitting documents.

Grammar & word origin

Aufforderung is a feminine noun: die Aufforderung. Its plural is die Aufforderungen.

It is formed from the verb auffordern (“to ask, urge, or instruct someone to do something”), with the noun-forming ending -ung. The verb combines auf (“up” or “to”) and fordern (“to demand” or “to request”).

Synonyms & antonyms

Bitte (“request” or “please”) is generally more polite and less forceful than Aufforderung.
Anweisung (“instruction”) emphasizes telling someone how or what to do, often in a formal or practical setting.
Appell (“appeal”) is often a public or emotional call for action.
Forderung (“demand”) usually sounds more forceful and can refer to a claim or requirement.

There is no exact antonym. In some contexts, Ablehnung (“rejection”) or Verweigerung (“refusal”) describes the opposite response to an Aufforderung.