der  Abgang

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌɡaŋ/

🚶‍♂️ What does "der Abgang" mean?

The noun der Abgang (masculine) has several meanings, often revolving around the concept of 'leaving' or 'ending':

• Leaving a place or position: This is the most common meaning. It can refer to physically leaving (e.g., from a stage, a room) or departing from a role (e.g., job, school).
  • Example: Der plötzliche Abgang des Direktors überraschte alle. (The director's sudden departure surprised everyone.)
  • Theatre: An actor's exit from the stage.
• Finish or aftertaste (wine): For wine or other beverages, der Abgang describes the taste sensation remaining in the mouth after swallowing.
  • Example: Der Wein hat einen langen, fruchtigen Abgang. (The wine has a long, fruity finish.)
• Loss or decline: Can describe a depletion or reduction (e.g., of goods, members).
  • Example: Wir verzeichneten einen leichten Abgang bei den Lagerbeständen. (We recorded a slight decrease in inventory.)
• Medicine (dated/rarer): Can also refer to a miscarriage (today more commonly "Fehlgeburt" or "Abort"). ⚠️ This meaning is sensitive and less common in everyday language.
  • Example: Ein früher Abgang in der Schwangerschaft. (An early miscarriage during pregnancy.)
• Exit/Departure point (rarer): Sometimes used for an exit or turn-off, but "Ausgang" or "Ausfahrt" are more common.
  • Example: Den richtigen Abgang von der Autobahn nehmen (unusual phrasing for taking the correct highway exit).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "der Abgang" in Detail

"Abgang" is a masculine noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

💬 Example Sentences

• Nominative Singular: Der Abgang war unvermeidlich. (The departure was unavoidable.)
• Genitive Singular: Trotz des plötzlichen Abgangs des Chefs lief die Arbeit weiter. (Despite the boss's sudden departure, work continued.)
• Dative Singular: Nach dem Abgang von der Schule begann er eine Ausbildung. (After leaving school, he started an apprenticeship.)
• Accusative Singular: Der Regisseur plante den Abgang der Hauptfigur sehr dramatisch. (The director planned the main character's exit very dramatically.)
• Nominative Plural: Die vielen Abgänge schwächten das Team. (The many departures weakened the team.)
• Dative Plural: Das Unternehmen musste mit den zahlreichen Abgängen umgehen. (The company had to deal with the numerous departures.)

💡 How "der Abgang" is Used

The use of der Abgang strongly depends on the context:

• Work & School: Here, it usually means leaving a position or institution. One speaks of "der Abgang von der Schule" (leaving school) or "der Abgang eines Mitarbeiters" (an employee's departure).
• Everyday & Social Life: Refers to leaving a place or event. "Einen Abgang machen" is a colloquial phrase for disappearing (often sneakily or quickly).
• Theatre & Film: A technical term for exiting the scene or stage.
• Wine & Culinary: Describes the aftertaste or finish. A "kurzer Abgang" (short finish) or "langer Abgang" (long finish) are common descriptions.
• Business & Administration: Often used in the sense of depletion, reduction of stock, or member numbers.

Important Note: While "Abgang" can be neutral (e.g., leaving school after graduation), it often carries a slightly negative connotation, especially if it happens suddenly or unexpectedly (e.g., a politician's departure after a scandal).

Comparison:

• Abgang vs. Abschied: "Abschied" (farewell) is more personal and emotional, while "Abgang" is often more formal or factual.
• Abgang vs. Ausgang: "Ausgang" (exit) is the physical place (door, gate), "Abgang" is the act of leaving.
• Abgang vs. Kündigung: "Kündigung" (resignation, termination) is the formal act of ending employment, "Abgang" is the actual departure.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Abgang"

For the Article (der): Think of "der Gang" (the corridor/walk). When you take the last 'Gang', it's your Abgang (departure). Since 'Gang' is masculine, so is 'Abgang'.

For the Meanings: Imagine you go 'ab' (off/away) down a long 'Gang' (corridor). This could be your Abgang (departure) from work, your Abgang (exit) from a party, or the wine making its taste Abgang (finish/aftertaste) down your 'inner corridor'. AB + GANG = going away.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential Confusion!)

• Der Ausgang: Refers to the physical exit (door, way out), not the act of leaving.
• Der Übergang: Means transition or crossing, not necessarily an end.
• Der Durchgang: Means passage or thoroughfare.

😂 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat der Geist einen so schlechten Abgang von der Party gemacht? Er konnte einfach nicht unauffällig durch die Wand gehen!

English: Why did the ghost make such a bad exit (Abgang) from the party? He just couldn't walk through the wall inconspicuously! 😉 (Okay, technically ghosts make silent exits...)

✒️ Poem about "der Abgang"

German:
Die Bühne leer, das Licht geht aus,
Ein letzter Schritt, dann ist es Schluss.
Der Abgang leis', ein Hauch im Raum,
Verweht ist schnell der kurze Traum.

Vom Job, der Schule, altbekannt,
Man reicht zum Abschied noch die Hand.
Ein neuer Weg, das Ziel noch fern,
Man wagt den Abgang, tut es gern?

English Translation:
The stage is bare, the light goes out,
A final step, then it's the end.
The exit quiet, a breath in the room,
Quickly blown away is the short dream.

From job, from school, familiar places,
A hand is offered for farewell embraces.
A new path starts, the goal still far,
One dares the departure, willingly or not?

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin ein Ende, doch kein Tod,
Bin oft geplant, doch manchmal jäh.
Im Wein geschätzt, am Arbeitsort
Manchmal gefürchtet – sag, wer bin ich, he?

English:
I am an end, but not a death,
Often planned, but sometimes abrupt.
Valued in wine, at the workplace
Sometimes feared – tell me, who am I, eh?

Solution: Der Abgang

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Abgang" is composed of:

• Prefix ab-: expresses separation, removal, or an end (as in abfahren - to depart, abtrennen - to separate).
• Root word Gang: relates to movement, walking (from gehen - to go/walk).

Together, they form the basic meaning of "going away" or "moving off".

Trivia:

• In theatre, there are precise stage directions for an actor's "Abgang" (e.g., "Abgang nach links" - exit stage left).
• The term "Abgang" is sometimes also used in sports, e.g., in gymnastics (dismount from apparatus).