der  Ausblick

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔaʊsˌblɪk/

🏞️ What does "der Ausblick" mean?

The word der Ausblick is a masculine noun and primarily has two meanings:

1. The view from a place: This refers to what you can see when looking outwards or into the distance from a specific point (often elevated). Synonyms here are often die Aussicht or das Panorama.
   Example: Vom Balkon hatten wir einen herrlichen Ausblick auf die Berge. (From the balcony, we had a wonderful view of the mountains.)
2. The perspective for the future: This describes expectations, forecasts, or prospects for future developments. Synonyms here include die Perspektive, die Prognose, or Zukunftsaussicht.
   Example: Der wirtschaftliche Ausblick für das nächste Jahr ist positiv. (The economic outlook for next year is positive.)

⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the correct meaning.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Ausblick

Der Ausblick is a masculine noun. Its declension follows the regular pattern for strong masculine nouns.

📝 Example Sentences

• Nominative: Der Ausblick vom Turm war atemberaubend. (The view from the tower was breathtaking.)
• Genitive: Trotz des schlechten Ausblicks auf die Wirtschaftslage bleiben wir optimistisch. (Despite the poor outlook for the economy, we remain optimistic.)
• Dative: Wir erfreuten uns dem schönen Ausblick. (We enjoyed the beautiful view. - Slightly dated phrasing, today more common: Wir erfreuten uns am / über den schönen Ausblick)
• Accusative: Das Hotel bietet einen fantastischen Ausblick aufs Meer. (The hotel offers a fantastic view of the sea.)
• Plural: Die Firma gab positive Ausblicke für die kommenden Quartale. (The company gave positive outlooks for the coming quarters.)

💡 How to use "der Ausblick"

Der Ausblick is used in different contexts depending on its meaning:

• Literal meaning (view): Frequently used in contexts related to travel, real estate, nature, or architecture. You might speak of a schön (beautiful), weit (wide), begrenzt (limited), or beeindruckend (impressive) Ausblick.
  • "Das Zimmer mit Meerblick bietet den besten Ausblick." (The room with a sea view offers the best view.)
• Figurative meaning (future): Often used in economic, political, or personal contexts when discussing forecasts or expectations. You might speak of a positiv (positive), düster (gloomy), vorsichtig (cautious), or vielversprechend (promising) Ausblick.
  • "Der Ausblick auf den Arbeitsmarkt hat sich verbessert." (The outlook for the job market has improved.)

Comparison with similar words

• Aussicht: Very similar and often interchangeable with Ausblick in the literal sense (view). Sometimes Aussicht is perceived as slightly more passive (what you see), while Ausblick can also imply the action of looking out. In the figurative sense (future), they are also often synonymous (e.g., Zukunftsaussichten - future prospects), but Ausblick is more frequently used for formal forecasts (e.g., business reports).
• Perspektive: Can also mean a view or a future outlook, but often emphasizes the specific point of view or the possibilities arising from it.
• Prognose: Refers more specifically to a prediction of future events, often based on data. It is more focused on the forecast than the more general term Ausblick.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Ausblick"

For the article (der): Imagine a man (der Mann) standing at the window, looking out (aus) at the view (Blick). He enjoys der Ausblick. (Masculine person -> masculine article).

For the meaning: Think of looking "aus" (out) and taking a "Blick" (look). This can be a look outside (view) or a look forward into the future (outlook/prospect).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words (Take Care!)

• Einblick: Means a look inside or brief information about something (e.g., Einblick in die Bücher - a look at the books). The opposite of Ausblick.
• Überblick: A general summary or a view from above over a wide area (overview).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Optimist den Pessimisten: "Siehst du auch diesen herrlichen Ausblick?"
Sagt der Pessimist: "Ja, aber stell dir vor, wie weit man fallen könnte!"

Translation: The optimist asks the pessimist: "Do you also see this magnificent view?"
The pessimist replies: "Yes, but imagine how far one could fall!"

📜 Poem about the Ausblick

Vom Berge hoch der weite Blick,
Der Ausblick zeigt das Land, das Glück.
Die Sonne sinkt, ein goldner Schein,
So soll die Zukunft hoffnungsvoll sein.

Ein neuer Plan, ein kühner Schritt,
Der Ausblick auf Erfolg geht mit.
Was kommen mag, wir schauen hin,
Mit Mut und offenem Sinn.

Translation:
From mountains high, the view so wide,
The outlook shows the land, where joys reside.
The sun descends, a golden gleam,
So may the future be a hopeful dream.

A novel plan, a step so bold,
The prospect of success takes hold.
Whatever comes, we face it true,
With courage and an open view.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich zeig dir Berge, Tal und Meer,
von einem Fenster oder noch viel mehr.
Ich blick auch in die Zeit voraus,
mal gut, mal schlecht, mal Freud, mal Graus.

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I show you mountains, valley, sea,
From a window or more, you see.
I also gaze at time ahead,
Sometimes good, sometimes bad, joy or dread.

What am I?
(Solution: der Ausblick)

✨ More Information

Word Formation

Der Ausblick is a compound noun formed from:

• The preposition/prefix aus- (out, forth)
• The noun der Blick (look, gaze, view)

The meaning thus logically derives as "the look outwards" or "the look into the future".

Related Verbs

• ausblicken auf (etw. Akk.): to look out onto something (e.g., "Das Fenster blickt auf den Garten aus." - The window looks out onto the garden.)