Forderung

Forderung is a German noun (the feminine die Forderung) meaning a claim, demand, or requirement. Etymologically, the word is formed from the verb fordern (to demand) with the nominalizing suffix -ung, and it is used in a range of contexts from everyday language to law and business.

In everyday and normative usage, Forderung denotes an entitlement or a request that something should be provided or recognized. People can make a Forderung in personal, political, or social contexts, for example Forderungen nach fairer Behandlung or Forderungen nach bessere Rahmenbedingungen.

In legal terms, a Forderung is a creditor’s right against a debtor to obtain performance, typically payment or delivery of goods or services. Such claims can arise from contracts, statutes, or other legal grounds and are enforceable in court. Forderungen can be transferred to third parties through assignment (Abtretung) and may be subject to prescription (Verjährung), which sets time limits for enforcing them.

In accounting and business, the term is commonly used to describe receivables: Forderungen aus Lieferungen und Leistungen (claims from goods sold or services rendered). These represent assets on the balance sheet and are managed through credit control and debt collection. When a debtor does not pay, a Forderung may require impairment or be written off as a bad debt.

Beyond technical usage, Forderung also appears as a general term for demands or claims in political or societal discourse, such as Forderungen nach mehr Demokratie or bessere Arbeitsbedingungen.