Formulierung

wording, phrasing, formulation

noun for-moo-LEE-roong Rare

Origin: from Latin 'formula'

Usage Note

Formulierung refers to the specific choice of words in an utterance or text; eine ungenaue Formulierung is an imprecise phrasing. Debates about meaning often turn on Formulierungen.

Examples

"Die Formulierung des Vertrags ließ mehrere Interpretationen zu."

Natural Translation

The wording of the contract allowed several interpretations.

Literal Translation

The wording of the contract left several interpretations open.

Free starter pack

Building your German vocabulary?

Get the 100 most common German words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.

Related Words

Explore German by topic

GermanNow

German False Friends: 25 Words That Trick You

German false friends like Gift (poison) and bekommen (to receive) trick English speakers daily. Here are 25 words that mean the opposite of what you'd guess.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Tipping in Germany: A Visitor's Etiquette Guide

Tipping in Germany means saying your total out loud, not leaving coins. Learn the exact phrases, how much to tip, and the Sie-vs-du etiquette travelers need.

June 5, 2026 6 min read

GermanNow

German Modal Verbs: Können, Müssen, Wollen and More

German modal verbs put the modal in position 2 and the real verb at the end. Master können, müssen, wollen and the rest with charts and clear examples.

June 5, 2026 5 min read

GermanNow

Wo, Wohin, Woher: Three Ways to Say Where

German splits where into three: wo (location), wohin (destination), and woher (origin). Learn the wo vs wohin rule, the hin/her logic, and common mistakes.

June 5, 2026 6 min read