der
Ausstieg
🚪 What Exactly Does "der Ausstieg" Mean?
The word der Ausstieg is a masculine noun with several related meanings, all revolving around the concept of leaving or ending something:
- Exiting a vehicle or place: The most common meaning, especially in the context of public transport. Example: Bitte achten Sie beim Ausstieg auf den Spalt zwischen Zug und Bahnsteigkante. (Please mind the gap between the train and the platform edge when exiting.)
- Quitting an activity, contract, or participation: This often relates to professional or contractual situations. Example: Nach 20 Jahren im Unternehmen plante er seinen Ausstieg. (After 20 years with the company, he planned his departure/exit.)
- Withdrawing from a project, ideology, or commitment: Often used in political or social contexts. Example: Der Ausstieg aus der Kernenergie ist ein wichtiges politisches Ziel. (The phase-out of nuclear energy is an important political goal.) (Often found in compounds like Atomausstieg - nuclear phase-out, Kohleausstieg - coal phase-out).
🚨 Be careful not to confuse der Ausstieg with der Aufstieg (ascent, promotion)!
Article rules for der, die, and das
-eg/-ieg → mostly masculine.
🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Declension of "Ausstieg"
"Ausstieg" is a masculine noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.
Singular Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | der | Ausstieg |
| Genitive | des | Ausstiegs / Ausstieges |
| Dative | dem | Ausstieg / Ausstiege |
| Accusative | den | Ausstieg |
Plural Declension
| Case | Article | Noun |
|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Ausstiege |
| Genitive | der | Ausstiege |
| Dative | den | Ausstiegen |
| Accusative | die | Ausstiege |
Example Sentences for Clarity
- Der Ausstieg befindet sich auf der rechten Seite. (The exit is on the right side. - Nominative Singular, exiting vehicle)
- Wir diskutierten die Bedingungen des Ausstiegs aus dem Vertrag. (We discussed the conditions for withdrawing from the contract. - Genitive Singular, ending contract)
- Vor dem Ausstieg sollten alle persönlichen Gegenstände mitgenommen werden. (Before exiting, all personal belongings should be taken. - Dative Singular, leaving place)
- Er hat seinen Ausstieg aus dem Projekt angekündigt. (He announced his withdrawal from the project. - Accusative Singular, withdrawal)
- Die vorderen Ausstiege sind oft überfüllt. (The front exits are often crowded. - Nominative/Accusative Plural, exiting vehicle)
💡 When and How to Use "Ausstieg"?
Der Ausstieg is used in various contexts:
In Transport 🚌🚆
Here, it literally means getting off or out of a mode of transport. You often hear announcements like: "Nächster Halt: Hauptbahnhof. Ausstieg in Fahrtrichtung rechts." (Next stop: Central Station. Exit on the right in the direction of travel.) It can also refer to the door or area used for exiting: "Bitte blockieren Sie nicht den Ausstieg!" (Please do not block the exit!)
In Professional Life & Contracts 💼📄
Here, it means ending an activity, employment, or contract. People talk about "der Ausstieg aus dem Berufsleben" (retirement) or "der Ausstieg aus einem laufenden Vertrag" (exiting/terminating an ongoing contract). Often, the words Kündigung (termination notice) or Rücktritt (resignation) are used, but Ausstieg often emphasizes the process or decision to leave.
In Politics & Society 🌍🤝
Compounds like Atomausstieg (nuclear phase-out) or Kohleausstieg (coal phase-out) are well-known, describing the politically decided abandonment of specific technologies. It can also describe a person's withdrawal from politics or an organization ("Sein Ausstieg aus der Partei überraschte viele." - His departure from the party surprised many.) or even leaving extremist groups.
🧠 Mnemonics for "der Ausstieg"
Article Aid (der): Think of der Mann (the man) who chooses or finds der Ausstieg. Associate the masculine article 'der' with a male person performing the action of exiting.
Meaning Aid (Exit/Withdrawal): The word is composed of "aus" (out) and "Stieg" (from steigen = to climb/step). Imagine you steigen aus - step out of a train, a job, or a pact – you are leaving it.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms: What Fits with "Ausstieg"?
Synonyms (Words with similar meaning):
- Abgang: (departure; often more neutral or sudden, also used in theatre)
- Verlassen: (leaving; general term for going away)
- Rückzug: (withdrawal; often strategic, e.g., from a position or market)
- Kündigung: (termination, notice; specific to contracts/jobs, the formal act)
- Aufgabe: (giving up; more about ending an activity/goal)
- Beendigung: (termination, conclusion; more formal ending of something)
- Austritt: (resignation, leaving; specifically from an organization/community)
⚠️ Similar-sounding words: Watch out for Aufstieg (promotion, ascent) – the exact opposite in many contexts!
😂 A Little Joke
Der Kontrolleur im Bus fragt: "Ihre Fahrkarte bitte!"
Sagt der Fahrgast: "Ich habe keine, ich plane gerade meinen spontanen Ausstieg durchs Fenster!"
Translation:
The conductor on the bus asks: "Your ticket, please!"
The passenger says: "I don't have one, I'm currently planning my spontaneous exit through the window!"
📜 Poem about Exiting
Der Zug hält an, die Tür geht auf,
Der Ausstieg naht, nimm deinen Lauf.
Ob Fahrzeug, Job, ob alter Pakt,
Ein neuer Weg wird nun vollbracht.
Man steigt hinaus, blickt nicht zurück,
Der Ausstieg ist ein kleines Glück,
Ein Schritt ins Freie, leicht und klar,
Was kommt danach? Es wird schon wahr.
Translation:
The train stops, the door opens wide,
The exit nears, take your stride.
From vehicle, job, or ancient pact,
A new path forward is now tracked.
One steps outside, no backward look,
The exit is a lucky nook,
A step to freedom, light and clear,
What comes hereafter? It will appear.
❓ Little Riddle
Ich bin das Ende einer Fahrt,
manchmal geplant, manchmal knallhart.
Ich schließe Türen, öffne neue,
ob aus dem Bus, dem Job, voll Reue?
Was bin ich?
... Der Ausstieg
Translation:
I am the end of a journey's way,
Sometimes planned, sometimes stark today.
I close some doors, make new ones known,
From bus or job, perhaps with moan?
What am I?
... The exit / withdrawal (Der Ausstieg)
➕ Other Information
Word Composition
Der Ausstieg is a noun derived from the verb aussteigen. This verb consists of:
- aus-: Prefix indicating outward movement or an end.
- steigen: Verb meaning movement (often upwards, but here in the sense of 'to step' or 'to get').
Together, the meaning becomes “to get out,” “to leave,” “to end participation.”
Common Compounds
The word frequently forms compound nouns specifying particular types of exits or phase-outs:
- Atomausstieg: The politically decided phase-out of nuclear energy.
- Kohleausstieg: The planned phase-out of coal-fired power generation.
- Notausstieg: An emergency exit.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Ausstieg?
The word "Ausstieg" is always masculine. The correct article is der Ausstieg. It describes the act of exiting (e.g., a vehicle) or withdrawing/quitting (e.g., a job or project).