Vermächtnis

German

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˌfɛɐ̯ˈmɛçtnɪs], [ˌfɐˈmɛçtnɪs], [ˌfɛɐ̯ˈmɛːçtnɪs], [ˌfɐˈmɛːçtnɪs]

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

Vermächtnis n (strong, genitive Vermächtnisses, plural Vermächtnisse)

1. (law) testamentary gift: bequest, devise, legacy

   Synonym: Legat

Usage notes

Germany, Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein follow the doctrine of legatum per damnationem, whereby the beneficiary takes their testamentary gift through transfer by the executor qua heir. France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Poland, and most other civil law countries follow the legatum per vindicationem doctrine, whereby a testamentary gift vests directly in the beneficiary on the death of the deceased without going through an executor first. (Although, if the law applicable to the inheritance follows private international law rules (Statut), e.g. a Polish will involving property located abroad, then legatum per vindicationem may be directly effective even if the immovable property is located in e.g. Germany.)

Declension

Declension of Vermächtnis [neuter, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	das	Vermächtnis	die	Vermächtnisse
genitive	eines	des	Vermächtnisses	der	Vermächtnisse
dative	einem	dem	Vermächtnis, Vermächtnisse1	den	Vermächtnissen
accusative	ein	das	Vermächtnis	die	Vermächtnisse

¹Now rare, see notes.

See also

• Hinterlassenschaft
• Erbe
• Erbschaft

Further reading

• “Vermächtnis” in Duden online
• “Vermächtnis” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache