Wendung

Wendung is a German noun derived from the verb wenden, meaning to turn. It denotes turning or change and has several related senses that share the core idea of altering direction, position, or sequence.

In a physical or technical sense, Wendung can refer to a turning or maneuver, such as changing the direction of a moving object or reorienting a mechanism.

In linguistics and rhetoric, Wendung designates a fixed expression, a phrase or idiom used in speech or writing. It is closely related to Redewendung or Ausdruck. For example, the proverb “in der Kürze liegt die Würze” is a common Wendung, illustrating how a phrase can convey meaning beyond its literal words.

In narrative or argumentative contexts, Wendung means a twist or turning point—the moment when events take an unexpected direction. Examples include “eine überraschende Wendung der Geschichte” or “eine dramatische Wendung im Plot.”

Etymology and usage: The term comes from wenden “to turn” plus the suffix -ung. It is widely used across domains to indicate a change in direction, a phrase or expression, or a plot twist, depending on the context.

See also: Wende, Redewendung, Ausdruck.