inventariere

Inventariere is the German verb in the imperative form (du) of inventarisieren, meaning to create or update an inventory. It is used to direct someone to undertake the process of listing and documenting items, assets, or holdings. In practice, inventariere can refer to stocktaking in a business, cataloging objects in archives, libraries, or museums, or compiling a comprehensive list of possessions in administration. The related noun Inventar denotes the inventory itself, while terms such as Inventaraufnahme (stocktaking), Inventarlisten (inventory lists), and Inventarwert (inventory value) are common in professional contexts.

Etymology and linguistic notes: Inventarisieren derives from the noun Inventar, which itself traces to Latin inventarium and French inventaire, through German linguistic development. The suffix -isieren forms verbs in German meaning “to make into” or “to perform the action of,” here indicating the act of creating an inventory. The imperative form inventariere is used for direct instruction to a specific person in informal speech.

Context and usage: In businesses, inventariere is part of asset management and internal controls, often followed by a reconciliation between physical counts and financial records. In libraries, archives, and museums, the term relates to cataloging collections, documenting acquisition details, conditions, and locations. The process typically involves defining the scope, performing counts or verifications, recording data in an information system, and addressing discrepancies. Depending on the sector, inventories may be conducted annually, during audits, or when changes to holdings occur.

See also: inventory management, stocktaking, asset register, cataloging, archival inventory, museum collection management.