der
Abzug
What does "der Abzug" actually mean? 🤔
The word der Abzug is a versatile German noun with several meanings. It's important to understand the context to grasp the correct meaning:
- 💰 Finance/Taxes: A deduction or reduction of an amount, e.g., for taxes or from a salary. (Example: der Steuerabzug - tax deduction)
- 🔫 Weapons/Technology: The trigger of a firearm. (Example: den Abzug betätigen - to pull the trigger)
- 📸 Printing/Photography: A copy, print, or proof, especially a photographic print from a negative or digital file. (Example: einen Abzug vom Foto machen lassen - to have a print made of the photo)
- 💨 Technology/Household: A device for extracting or venting air, smoke, or fumes, e.g., an extractor hood (Dunstabzugshaube) in the kitchen or the flue of a chimney (Rauchabzug). (Example: der Dunstabzug - the extractor hood)
- 🚶♂️ Military/General: The departure or withdrawal, e.g., of troops. (Example: der Abzug der Soldaten - the withdrawal of the soldiers)
🚨 Note: The most common meanings in everyday life are the financial deduction, the trigger, and the photographic print.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-ug → mostly masculine.
Caution: der Flug but das Zeug/ das Flugzeug.
✍️ Grammar of "der Abzug" in Detail
"Abzug" is a masculine noun and uses the article der. It follows the strong declension pattern.
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Abzug |
| Genitive | des | Abzugs / Abzuges |
| Dative | dem | Abzug |
| Accusative | den | Abzug |
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Abzüge |
| Genitive | der | Abzüge |
| Dative | den | Abzügen |
| Accusative | die | Abzüge |
Example Sentences
- Finances: Nach dem Abzug der Steuern bleibt nicht mehr viel übrig.
(After the deduction of taxes, not much is left.) - Weapon: Er drückte vorsichtig den Abzug.
(He carefully pulled the trigger.) - Photography: Ich hätte gerne drei Abzüge von diesem Foto.
(I would like three prints of this photo.) - Household: Der Abzug in der Küche funktioniert nicht richtig.
(The extractor vent in the kitchen isn't working properly.) - Military: Der Abzug der Truppen wurde angeordnet.
(The withdrawal of the troops was ordered.)
Usage in Everyday Life: When to use "Abzug"? 🧐
The use of der Abzug strongly depends on the context:
- In the office or regarding finances: When talking about salary, taxes, or invoices, Abzug usually means a reduction of a monetary amount (Lohnabzug - wage deduction, Vorsteuerabzug - input tax deduction, Rechnungsabzug/Skonto - discount).
- In the military, police, or shooting clubs: Here, it clearly refers to the trigger of a weapon.
- In a photo lab or copy shop: You order Abzüge (prints) of photos or documents (Fotoabzug - photo print, Probeabzug - proof print).
- In the kitchen or workshop: People talk about the ventilation or flue (Dunstabzug - extractor hood, Rauchabzug - smoke vent).
- In news or historical contexts: It can mean the withdrawal of people or groups (Truppenabzug - troop withdrawal).
Confusion is rare as the context is usually clear. However, it's good practice to be more specific if misunderstandings are possible (e.g., say "Steuerabzug" or "Fotoabzug" instead of just "Abzug").
💡 Mnemonics for "der Abzug"
Article Mnemonic (der): Think of der Mann (the man) who abzieht (deducts) money from his salary OR der Finger (the finger) that pulls den Abzug (the trigger). Both are typical images for der Abzug.
Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from "abziehen" (to pull off, deduct, withdraw). Imagine you are pulling something off or away:
- Pulling money off your account/salary → Abzug (deduction)
- Pulling the trigger back → Abzug (trigger)
- Pulling an image off a negative/printer → Abzug (print/copy)
- Pulling air/steam out → Abzug (vent/hood)
- Pulling troops away from a place → Abzug (withdrawal)
🔄 Similar and Opposite Words
Synonyms (Similar Meaning)
- For financial deduction: Minderung (reduction), Reduzierung (reduction), Kürzung (cut), Einbehaltung (withholding), Skonto (discount)
- For trigger: Auslöser (trigger), Drücker (pusher/trigger)
- For copy/print: Kopie (copy), Druck (print), Vergrößerung (enlargement), Proof, Kontaktabzug (contact print), Foto (photo)
- For vent: Dunstabzugshaube (extractor hood), Entlüftung (ventilation), Rauchabzug (smoke vent), Kaminzug (chimney draft)
- For withdrawal: Rückzug (retreat), Abmarsch (departure), Evakuierung (evacuation)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)
- For financial deduction: Zuschlag (surcharge), Zulage (allowance/bonus), Erhöhung (increase), Addition (addition), Gutschrift (credit entry)
- For copy/print: Original (original), Negativ (negative - photography), Vorlage (master copy/template)
- For withdrawal: Ankunft (arrival), Einmarsch (invasion/entry), Besetzung (occupation), Zuzug (influx/arrival)
⚠️ Similar Words: Do not confuse with der Anzug (suit) or der Aufzug (elevator).
😂 A Little Joke
DE: Frage: Was ist der Unterschied zwischen einem guten und einem schlechten Fotografen?
Antwort: Der gute Fotograf macht tolle Abzüge, der schlechte macht sich aus dem Staub!
EN: Question: What's the difference between a good photographer and a bad one?
Answer: The good photographer makes great prints (Abzüge), the bad one makes a quick getaway (macht sich aus dem Staub - idiom, lit. 'makes himself out of the dust', related to Abzug as 'departure')!
(This is a pun playing on "Abzug" as a photographic print and "Abzug" implied in the idiom for leaving quickly/fleeing.)
📜 Poem about "der Abzug"
DE:
Vom Gehalt ein Teil verschwindet,
Der Abzug es verkündet.
Die Steuer und die Kasse,
vermindern glatt die Masse.
Ein Finger krumm am Eisen,
will auf den Abzug weisen.
Ein Knall, ein Blitz, Gefahr!
Sei lieber friedlich, das ist klar.
Ein Bild von dir, ganz neu und frisch,
als Abzug auf dem Tisch.
Erinnerung in Schwarz und Weiß,
bewahrt die Zeit auf leise Weis'.
Im Küchendunst, da hilft er sehr,
der Abzug, bitte sehr!
Zieht Dampf und Qualm hinaus,
bringt frische Luft ins Haus.
EN:
From the salary, a part disappears,
The deduction (Der Abzug) announces it.
The tax and the insurance fund,
simply reduce the amount.
A finger bent on the metal,
points towards the trigger (den Abzug).
A bang, a flash, danger!
Better be peaceful, that is clear.
A picture of you, brand new and fresh,
as a print (Abzug) on the desk.
Memory in black and white,
preserves time in a quiet way.
In the kitchen haze, it helps a lot,
the vent (der Abzug), if you please!
Pulls steam and smoke outside,
brings fresh air into the house.
🧩 Who or What am I?
DE:
Ich kann Geld verschwinden lassen, ohne ein Dieb zu sein.
Ich kann einen lauten Knall starten, doch habe selbst kein Bein.
Ich kann ein Bild festhalten, bin aber keine Kamera.
Ich kann die Luft reinigen, doch atme nicht – voilà!
Wer bin ich?
EN:
I can make money disappear, without being a thief.
I can start a loud bang, but have no leg myself.
I can capture an image, but I'm not a camera.
I can clean the air, but do not breathe – voilà!
Who am I?
(Solution: Der Abzug)
🌐 More Interesting Facts
Word Formation (Wortbildung):
The word Abzug is a noun derived from the verb abziehen. The prefix ab- here means 'off', 'away' or 'down', and ziehen means 'to pull' or 'to move'. The different meanings reflect various types of "pulling off" or "pulling away":
- abziehen money (to subtract) → Abzug (deduction)
- ziehen a trigger (to pull back) → Abzug (trigger)
- abziehen an image from a negative (to transfer/copy) → Abzug (print)
- let air/smoke abziehen (to draw off/vent) → Abzug (vent/flue)
- abziehen troops (to move back/withdraw) → Abzug (withdrawal)
Trivia:
In chess, der Abzug (or das Abzugsschach - discovered check) refers to a special tactic where one piece moves out of the way, allowing a piece behind it to make a threat (often a check).
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Abzug?
The word "Abzug" is always masculine. So you say der Abzug (in singular) and die Abzüge (in plural). It has several meanings, including a deduction (money), a trigger (weapon), a print (photo), or a vent/extractor.