Wiederholung

Wiederholung is a German noun meaning the act of repeating something or doing it again. Etymologically it comes from wieder, meaning again, combined with holen (to fetch or bring) and the suffix -ung, forming a general term for repetition.

In everyday use, Wiederholung denotes the repetition of actions, events, or utterances. In literature and rhetoric it refers to the repetition of words, phrases, or sounds to create emphasis, rhythm, or cohesion. Common forms include the repetition of initial words or phrases at the beginnings of clauses (anaphora) or at their ends (epiphora).

In education and cognitive psychology, Wiederholung is a central technique for learning and memory. Repetition helps consolidate knowledge, and practices such as spaced repetition optimize long-term retention. In German educational contexts the term is also used for retaking exams, as in a Wiederholungsklausur, referring to a subsequent examination after an initial attempt.

In music and the performing arts, Wiederholung denotes the recurrence of motifs, phrases, or sections within a work, contributing to structure and recognizability. Repeated material may be varied or returned to in its original form, helping to establish form and thematic coherence. In film and theater, recurring motifs or scenes function similarly to reinforce themes or mood.

In computing and programming, Wiederholung describes looped or iterative processes that repeat a block of instructions until a condition is met, forming a foundational concept of control flow. Overall, Wiederholung is a versatile concept across language, learning, art, and technology.