der  Aushang

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌhaŋ/

📜 What exactly is an Aushang?

Der Aushang (noun, masculine) refers to a public notice, announcement, or bulletin that is posted in a publicly accessible place (like a notice board, wall, or door) to disseminate information.

Imagine walking into a building – a school, an office, a supermarket – and seeing a piece of paper on the wall: that's typically der Aushang. It informs about events, rules, offers, or important news.

• Examples: Ein Aushang über neue Bürozeiten (a notice about new office hours), ein Aushang für eine Wohnungsannonce (a notice for a flat advertisement), der Aushang des Prüfungstermins (the notice of the exam date).

⚠️ Don't confuse der Aushang (the notice itself) with the verb aushängen (to post something, to display).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Der Aushang

The word "Aushang" is a masculine noun. Its definite article is der. Here is its declension:

💬 Example Sentences

1. Bitte beachte den Aushang am schwarzen Brett. (Please note the notice on the bulletin board.)
2. Der Inhalt des Aushangs war sehr wichtig. (The content of the notice was very important.)
3. Im Treppenhaus hängen viele Aushänge. (There are many notices hanging in the stairwell.)
4. Auf den Aushängen standen die neuen Regeln. (The new rules were written on the notices.)

📌 How is 'der Aushang' used?

Der Aushang is primarily used in the context of information and communication, especially for written messages made publicly available.

• Typical places: Schwarzes Brett (bulletin board), Pinnwand (pinboard), entrance area, hallway, office, school, university, public authority, supermarket.
• Typical content: Announcements, rules, offers, wanted ads, event information, official communications.
• Verb: The corresponding verb is aushängen (separable): "Ich hänge einen Zettel aus." (I'm posting a note.) -> "Der Zettel ist ein Aushang." (The note is a notice.)

Differentiation: While der Aushang specifically refers to a posted message, die Bekanntmachung (announcement) is a more general term that can also be oral. Der Anschlag can be synonymous but sometimes has a slightly outdated or very official connotation (e.g., poster display).

💡 Mnemonics for 'der Aushang'

1. For the article 'der': Imagine DER janitor (often associated with masculine role stereotypes in German culture) importantly hanging up the notice. DER boss makes an important announcement (Aushang). This helps anchor the masculine form.

2. For the meaning: The word comes from "aus-hängen" (to hang out/display). What do you hang out? Information, a message visible to everyone. Think of laundry hung aus to dry – the Aushang is hung aus for information.

Remember: DER important notice that is HANGING AUS (out) is der Aushang.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words

• Die Auslage: Goods displayed in a shop window (not primarily information).
• Der Anhang: An appendix or attachment to a document or email.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Aushang im Büro Liebeskummer?

Weil ihn ständig jemand abhängt!

---

Why was the notice in the office lovesick?

Because someone was always taking it down! (A pun: "jemanden abhängen" can mean "to ditch someone" or "to take something down".)

✍️ Poem about the Aushang

Am Brett, ganz still und schlicht,
hängt er da im Lampenlicht.
Der Aushang, altbekannt,
gedruckt auf weißem Rand.

Er spricht von Zeit und Ort,
trägt manches wichtige Wort.
Mal bunt, mal schwarz auf weiß,
teilt er mit leisem Fleiß.

Wer liest ihn, bleibt nicht dumm,
drum schau dich öfter um!
Was neu ist und was gilt,
zeigt dir sein Schriftbild.

---

On the board, quiet and plain,
It hangs there in the lamplight's stain.
Der Aushang, known so well,
Printed on white, its story to tell.

It speaks of time and place,
Carries many words of grace.
Sometimes colorful, sometimes black and white,
It shares with quiet might.

Who reads it, won't stay dumb,
So look around when you come!
What's new and what holds true,
Its typeface shows to you.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich hänge an der Wand, doch bin kein Bild.
Ich spreche stumm, mein Inhalt ist oft wild.
Mal biete ich was an, mal sag ich, was verboten.
Ich informiere alle – die Großen und die Roten.

Was bin ich?

---

I hang on the wall, but I'm not a picture.
I speak silently, my content is often varied.
Sometimes I offer something, sometimes I say what's forbidden.
I inform everyone – the big and the small (lit. 'the red ones', possibly a playful rhyme).

What am I?

🧩 Further Details

Word Composition

The word "Aushang" is derived from the verb "aushängen" (to hang out, to post). It describes the result of the action: something that has been posted.

• aus- (prefix, indicating movement outwards or making something public)
• hängen (verb, to hang, to attach something so it hangs down)

Trivia

In the digital age, there is also the "digitaler Aushang" (digital notice) on screens or intranets, but the term originates from physically posted notes.