noun

die Berufung, -en

appeal

Eine Bitte an ein höheres Gericht, eine Entscheidung noch einmal zu prüfen.

The German word Berufung has three primary meanings depending on the context:

Vocation or Calling: This refers to a strong inner feeling of being destined for a particular profession, task, or way of life. It goes beyond a simple job (Beruf) and implies a deeper purpose or passion.
Legal Appeal: In a legal context, it is a formal request to a higher court to review and change a decision made by a lower court. It is a specific type of legal remedy where the facts of the case can be re-examined.
Appointment: It refers to the official act of naming someone to a specific high-ranking position or office, most commonly used in academia when a person is offered a professorship (a Ruf).

Berufung is a feminine noun. Its plural form is die Berufungen.

The word is derived from the verb berufen (to appoint/to call upon), which is a prefix-version of the basic verb rufen (to call).

The structure consists of:

be-: A prefix that often indicates a directed action or a change in status.
ruf: The root, meaning "call."
-ung: A common suffix used to turn a verb into a noun, usually describing a process, state, or result.

Etymologically, it suggests that someone is "called" by a higher power, a talent, or an authority to fulfill a specific role.

Synonyms

Bestimmung: Used when referring to one's destiny or purpose in life.
Innerer Ruf: Literally "inner call," used in the context of a spiritual or personal vocation.
Revision: A synonym in a legal context, though it refers to a different type of appeal (usually strictly on points of law rather than facts).
Ernennung: Used when someone is officially appointed to a post.

Antonyms

Broterwerb: Refers to a job done purely for money, lacking any sense of "calling."
Ablehnung: Rejection or refusal, which is the opposite of being appointed or called to a position.
Rücktritt: Resignation, the act of leaving a position one was called to.