Öffnung

Öffnung is a German noun that denotes the act or result of opening. It refers to a physical opening in a boundary or object—such as a door, window, or a hole—as well as to figurative openings, like opportunities or access. The word is formed from the verb öffnen with the suffix -ung, and the standard plural is Öffnungen; the gender is die Öffnung.

In architecture, engineering and daily life, Öffnung describes openings in walls, roofs, or components that allow passage, light, or air. The size or degree of opening is expressed with terms like Öffnungsgrad, which indicates how wide a valve, flap, or window is opened. In anatomy and medicine, Körperöffnungen denote natural or surgically created passages, such as the mouth or nasal openings. In optics and photography, the term is used for the aperture, or Blendenöffnung, the size of the opening through which light enters the lens.

In socio-economic and political contexts, Öffnung can refer to liberalization or the opening of markets and borders, for example Wirtschaftsoffenheit or Öffnungspolitik. The concept also appears in more general discussions about reducing barriers to access, information, or participation.

See also: Eröffnung, Öffentlicher Zugang, Blendenöffnung.