noun

die Belehrung, -en

instruction

Definition & meaning

Belehrung is a feminine German noun meaning instruction, guidance, explanation, or admonition. It refers to the act of informing someone about something, often with the intention of teaching them the correct procedure or warning them about rules and consequences.

It has two main meanings:

Instruction or guidance
A person explains how something works or how it must be done.
- Eine gründliche Belehrung über die Sicherheitsregeln — thorough instruction about the safety rules.
Official information or legal notification
In administrative, medical, employment, or legal contexts, it can refer to formally informing someone of their rights, duties, or possible consequences.
- Die Belehrung über das Widerrufsrecht — the notification about the right of withdrawal.

Depending on the context, Belehrung can sound neutral and formal, but it may also suggest that someone is being talked down to or reprimanded.

Grammar & Word origin

Gender: feminine
Article: die
Plural: die Belehrungen
Verb: — to instruct, educate, or admonish
Suffix: -ung, which forms nouns describing an action or its result

The word is derived from the older German adjective and verb family related to lehren — “to teach.” Thus, Belehrung literally describes the act or result of teaching or informing someone.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

— instruction or training, usually more systematic and practical than Belehrung
— guidance or instructions on how to perform a task; generally more practical and less admonishing
— clarification or providing information, especially about a complicated or previously unclear matter
— admonition or warning; focuses more strongly on correcting someone’s behavior
— information or notification; more neutral and less associated with teaching or correction