das
Abonnement
📖 What does "das Abonnement" mean?
The word das Abonnement (noun, neuter) means a subscription. It refers to a contract for the regular receipt of a service or product in exchange for recurring payment. This typically applies to magazines (Zeitschriften), newspapers (Zeitungen), streaming services (Streamingdienste), software licenses (Softwarelizenzen), or services like gym memberships (Fitnessstudios) or public transport passes (öffentliche Verkehrsmittel, e.g., Monatskarte - monthly ticket).
There is only one article for this word: das. It originates from the French word abonnement (from abonner = to subscribe).
Article rules for der, die, and das
Many foreign words → mostly neutral.
There are many foreign words, we won't list them all.
-ment → mostly neutral.
Caution: Nouns with '-ent' are often masculine.
🧐 Grammar and Declension of "Abonnement"
"Das Abonnement" is a noun of the neuter gender (Neutrum). Its declension follows a regular pattern.
| Case | Article | Word | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das | Abonnement | (Nominative) |
| Genitiv | des | Abonnements | (Genitive) |
| Dativ | dem | Abonnement | (Dative) |
| Akkusativ | das | Abonnement | (Accusative) |
| Case | Article | Word | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die | Abonnements | (Nominative) |
| Genitiv | der | Abonnements | (Genitive) |
| Dativ | den | Abonnements | (Dative) |
| Akkusativ | die | Abonnements | (Accusative) |
Example Sentences
- Ich habe ein Abonnement für meine Lieblingszeitschrift abgeschlossen. (I took out a subscription for my favorite magazine.)
- Der Preis des Abonnements wird jährlich abgebucht. (The price of the subscription is debited annually.)
- Mit dem Abonnement erhältst du Zugriff auf alle Inhalte. (With the subscription, you get access to all content.)
- Kannst du bitte das Abonnement kündigen? (Can you please cancel the subscription?)
- Viele Streamingdienste bieten verschiedene Abonnements an. (Many streaming services offer different subscriptions.)
💡 How to use "das Abonnement"?
The term "Abonnement" is widely used in various contexts:
- Media: Zeitungsabonnement (newspaper subscription), Zeitschriftenabonnement (magazine subscription), Streaming-Abonnement (e.g., for movies, music)
- Software: Software-Abonnement (e.g., for office suites, creative software)
- Services: Fitnessstudio-Abonnement (gym subscription/membership), ÖPNV-Abonnement (public transport subscription like a monthly/yearly pass), Handyvertrag (mobile phone contract, often referred to as a subscription)
- Goods: Abo-Boxen (subscription boxes for regular delivery of products like cosmetics, food, etc.)
Colloquially, the short form "das Abo" is often used, which is also neuter (e.g., das Zeitungsabo, das Streaming-Abo).
An Abonnement implies a contractual commitment over a specific period (e.g., monthly, yearly) with automatic renewal unless cancelled (gekündigt).
🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic
Remember: Many German words ending in "-ment" borrowed from French are neuter (sächlich), like das Argument, das Dokument, das Instrument, and also das Abonnement. Think of it as a package (das Paket - also neuter!) that arrives regularly.
Meaning Mnemonic
Imagine you want a regular supply of something, maybe *bonbons* (sweets). You agree to pay a certain *amount* ('ment') regularly. So you get 'a bon(bon) amount' regularly - an *Abonnement* (subscription). Or think: "I'm *aboard* ('Abo') this *agreement* ('ment') for regular service."
🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- das Abo (short form, colloquial)
- die Subskription (more formal, often for journals/books)
- der Dauerauftrag (more in banking, but similar principle of recurring payment/service)
- der Vertrag (more general, but a subscription is a type of contract)
- die Mitgliedschaft (membership, often for clubs, gyms; similar concept)
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- der Einzelkauf / die Einzelausgabe (single purchase / single issue)
- die Kündigung (cancellation, termination of the subscription)
- Pay-per-View / Pay-per-Use (payment per use, not a flat rate)
⚠️ Note: Don't confuse Abonnement with financial terms like die Anleihe (bond) or das Darlehen (loan).
😂 A Little Joke
Warum hat der Geist kein Zeitungsabonnement mehr?
Er konnte die Zeitung immer nur durchlesen! 👻📰
(Why did the ghost cancel his newspaper subscription? He could always read right through it!)
📜 Poem about Subscription
Das Abo, schlau und fein,
bringt Zeitung, Film ins Heim hinein.
Monat für Monat, Jahr für Jahr,
ist die Lieferung pünktlich da.
Ob digital, ob auf Papier,
das Abonnement, das lob ich mir!
(The sub, so smart and fine,
Brings paper, film, a happy sign.
Month by month, and year by year,
The delivery's always here.
Digital or printed sheet,
The subscription can't be beat!)
🧩 A Little Riddle
Ich bin ein Vertrag, oft still verlängert,
bring dir Neues, das dein Herz ersehnt.
Mal digital, mal greifbar auf Papier,
bezahlst du mich, gehör'n die Inhalte dir.
Doch kündigst du nicht, bleib ich dir treu.
Was bin ich?
(I am a contract, often quietly renewed,
I bring you new things your heart has pursued.
Sometimes digital, sometimes tangible on paper,
You pay me, and the content becomes your caper.
But if you don't cancel, I remain true to you.
What am I?)
Solution: das Abonnement (the subscription)
ℹ️ Trivia / Etymology
Etymology (Word Origin): The word "Abonnement" was adopted into German from French (abonnement) in the 18th century. The French verb abonner means "to order, rent, subscribe" and goes back to à bonne ("at a fixed price").
Related Words:
- abonnieren (verb: to subscribe)
- der Abonnent / die Abonnentin (noun: subscriber [male/female])
- kündigen (verb: to cancel, terminate, often used for subscriptions)
Summary: is it der, die or das Abonnement?
The correct article for Abonnement is das: das Abonnement. It is always neuter.