Nöte

Nöte is a German noun meaning distress, need, or emergencies. It functions as the plural of Not and is used to describe states of hardship or difficult circumstances, whether personal or societal. While Not itself refers to a moment of danger or requirement, Nöte emphasizes multiple or ongoing instances of such conditions.

Etymology and usage: The word traces back to Old High German nôt and is related to the modern Not. In contemporary German, Nöte is most common in formal, literary, or journalistic contexts. It appears in phrases such as in Not geraten, Notlagen, and Notstände, and can be contrasted with the singular Not, which denotes a single instance of distress.

Scope and nuance: Nöte covers a wide range of difficulties, including economic hardship, health crises, or social adversity. It is often used collectively to speak of the hardships faced by a group, for example, a community in need, or a population facing shortages. The term commonly appears alongside related concepts like Notlagen (emergency situations) and Notstand (state of emergency).

Examples: Die Bevölkerung leidet unter wirtschaftlichen Nöten. Die Hilfsorganisation leistet Hilfe in akuten Nöten.

See also: Not, Notlage, Notstand.