der  Abschied

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌʃiːt/

👋 What does "der Abschied" mean?

Der Abschied (noun, masculine) refers to the act of leaving or parting from a person, place, or situation. It's the opposite of *Ankunft* (arrival) or *Begrüßung* (greeting).

Common contexts include:

• Leaving friends or family (e.g., *at the train station*).
• Leaving a job (e.g., *farewell from colleagues*).
• Figuratively, death as the final *Abschied*.

It is a noun derived from the verb abscheiden (to separate, part).

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Declension of "Abschied"

The noun der Abschied is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Note: The genitive singular can be des Abschieds or des Abschiedes, the dative singular dem Abschied or dem Abschiede. Both forms are correct, the shorter one is more common today.

💬 Example Sentences

1. Der Abschied am Flughafen war sehr emotional. (The farewell at the airport was very emotional.)
2. Wir gedachten des Abschieds von unserem Freund. (We commemorated the parting from our friend.)
3. Dem Abschied folgte eine lange Zeit der Stille. (The departure was followed by a long period of silence.)
4. Sie gab ihm zum Abschied einen Kuss. (She gave him a kiss for farewell.)
5. Die vielen Abschiede in ihrem Leben machten sie traurig. (The many farewells in her life made her sad.)

💡 How to use "der Abschied"?

"Der Abschied" is used in various contexts of leaving and separating.

• Everyday Goodbyes: When separating from someone, even for a short time. Example: Der Abschied fiel ihm schwer. (Saying goodbye was hard for him.)
• End of Employment: When leaving a job or retiring. Example: Wir feierten seinen Abschied aus der Firma. (We celebrated his departure from the company.)
• Final Farewell (Death): Often used as a euphemism for death. Example: Der Abschied von einem geliebten Menschen schmerzt sehr. (The farewell to a loved one hurts deeply.)
• Fixed Phrase: The most common phrase is "Abschied nehmen (von)" (to take leave (of), to say goodbye (to)). Example: Es ist Zeit, Abschied zu nehmen. (It's time to say goodbye.)

Distinction: While die Verabschiedung often describes the formal act or ceremony (e.g., *eine Abschiedsfeier* - a farewell party), der Abschied emphasizes the feeling and the moment of parting itself.

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Mnemonic for the Article (der):

Think: Der Commander (masculine) takes his final Abschied (farewell) from his ship. *Masculine word for a masculine person leaving.*

Mnemonic for the Meaning (farewell, departure):

Sounds like "up-sheet" or "up-shield". Imagine someone packing their sheets (*Abschied* -> *ab-schied* -> *up-sheet*) or raising their shield (*Abschied* -> *ab-schied* -> *up-shield*) as they depart or say farewell. The prefix *ab-* often means 'away' or 'off', and *schied* relates to *scheiden* (to part, separate). So, *Abschied* is literally the 'parting away'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Abschied

⚠️ Caution: Don't confuse der Abschied with der Bescheid (notification, information) or der Abscheu (disgust, aversion).

😄 A little Joke

German: Fragt der Lehrer: "Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem Abschied und einem Rausschmiss?" Schüler: "Beim Abschied sagt man 'Auf Wiedersehen!', beim Rausschmiss 'Auf Nimmerwiedersehen!'" 😄

English: The teacher asks: "What's the difference between a farewell (Abschied) and getting kicked out (Rausschmiss)?" Student: "With a farewell, you say 'See you again!', with getting kicked out, you say 'See you never again!'" 😄

✍️ Poem about Farewell

German:
Ein leises Wort, ein letzter Blick,
Der Abschied kommt, Stück für Stück.
Ein Händedruck, ein stilles Leid,
Für eine kurze oder lange Zeit.
Doch Hoffnung bleibt im Herzen rein,
Auf ein baldiges Wiedersehen!

English:
A quiet word, a final glance,
The farewell comes, chance by chance.
A handshake, a silent sorrow's plight,
For a time that's short or long in sight.
But hope remains within the heart, so true,
For a reunion, soon, anew!

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich bin das Ende eines Treffens,
manchmal süß, manchmal vergessen.
Ich komme nach dem letzten Wort,
bevor man geht an einen and'ren Ort.
Mal kurz, mal lang, mal schwer, mal leicht,
oft mit 'ner Träne man mich erreicht.

Was bin ich?
... Der Abschied

English:
I am the end of a meeting,
sometimes sweet, sometimes fleeting.
I come after the final word is cast,
before you leave for somewhere vast.
Sometimes short, sometimes long, heavy or light,
often reached with a tear in sight.

What am I?
... Farewell / Departure (Der Abschied)

🧩 Other Interesting Details

Word Composition:

The word "Abschied" is composed of:

• Prefix "ab-": expresses separation or removal (like in abfahren - to depart, abtrennen - to separate).
• Stem "schied": related to the verb "scheiden", meaning "to part" or "to separate".

So, "Abschied" literally means something like "the parting away" or "the separation".

Cultural Significance: Farewell rituals (*Abschiedsrituale*) are important in many cultures and can range from simple gestures to large ceremonies (e.g., *Abschiedspartys* - farewell parties, *Trauerfeiern* - funeral services).