benennung

Benennung is a German noun referring to the act or process of naming a thing, person, idea, or phenomenon. It encompasses the assignment of a label or term and the social, cultural, and technical conventions that govern how names are chosen and used. The term is derived from the verb benennen (to name).

In linguistics and philosophy, Benennung concerns how language designates referents through words and expressions. It includes the relationship between a word's form, its referent, and its sense, and how naming affects reference, categorization, and meaning. The practice can be contrasted with the formation of concepts (Begriff) and with description that uses no fixed term.

In scientific contexts, Benennung denotes the systematic assignment of names according to established codes. In biology, zoological and botanical nomenclature regulate species names, using priority, type specimens, and Latin binomials. In chemistry, systematic nomenclature (IUPAC) prescribes how compounds are named to reflect structure and composition. The term also appears in pharmacology, geology, and astronomy as part of discipline-specific nomenclature.

In culture, Benennung extends to toponymy and onomastics—the naming of places and personal names—and to legal and commercial contexts (brand names, trademarks, corporate renaming). Debates about Benennung can arise around cultural sensitivity, language policy, or historical reassessment of names.

Overall, Benennung describes both the act of giving a name and the broader systems that structure how names function within language, science, and society.