der  Austritt

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌtʁɪt/

🚪 What does "der Austritt" mean?

The noun der Austritt (masculine) primarily has two meanings in German:

1. Leaving or Resignation: This refers to ending a membership, affiliation, or leaving a place or organization. It can be formal (e.g., from a party, church, club - Partei, Kirche, Verein) or informal.

   • Example: Sein Austritt aus dem Sportverein überraschte alle. (His departure from the sports club surprised everyone.)

2. Leakage or Emission: This describes the uncontrolled or controlled escape of liquids, gases, or other substances from a container, pipe, or system. 💧💨

   • Example: Der Austritt von Gas wurde schnell bemerkt. (The escape/leakage of gas was noticed quickly.)

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

🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Der Austritt

The word "Austritt" is a masculine noun and always uses the article der. It belongs to the group of strong nouns (starke Substantive).

Declension (Case Endings)

Example Sentences ✍️

• Nominative Singular: Der Austritt aus der EU wird diskutiert. (The withdrawal from the EU is being discussed.)
• Genitiv Singular: Die Folgen des Austritts sind noch unklar. (The consequences of the withdrawal are still unclear.)
• Dativ Singular: Nach dem Austritt fühlte sie sich freier. (After leaving, she felt freer.)
• Akkusativ Singular: Er beantragte den Austritt schriftlich. (He applied for the resignation in writing.)
• Nominativ Plural: Es gab mehrere Austritte aus der Partei. (There were several resignations from the party.)
• Dativ Plural: Man muss sich mit den Gründen für die Austritte befassen. (One must deal with the reasons for the departures.)
• Example (Leakage): Der Austritt von Öl verschmutzte den Fluss. (The leakage of oil polluted the river.)

💡 How to use "der Austritt"

The usage of der Austritt heavily depends on the context:

• Leaving/Resigning: Often used in the context of organizations (Verein, Partei, Kirche, Firma - club, party, church, company), contracts, or communities. The structure is typically "Austritt aus..." (+ Dative case).
  • Formal: der Kirchenaustritt (leaving the church), der Parteiaustritt (leaving the party), der Austritt aus einem Vertrag (withdrawal from a contract).
  • Professional: der Austritt aus dem Unternehmen (leaving the company, often meaning resignation or retirement).
• Leaking/Emitting: Used in technical or scientific contexts to describe the escape of substances.
  • Technical: der Gasaustritt (gas leak), der Wasseraustritt (water leakage), der Ölaustritt (oil spill/leak).
  • Medical: der Austritt von Flüssigkeit aus einer Wunde (discharge of fluid from a wound).

Comparison:

• austreten (verb): Describes the act of leaving. (Er ist aus dem Verein ausgetreten. - He left the club.)
• Der Abgang: Similar to Austritt (leaving), but can be broader (e.g., exit from a stage - Abgang von der Bühne).
• Die Kündigung: Specifically the termination of a contract (often employment).
• Das Leck / Die Leckage: Specifically refers to the hole or point where something is leaking out.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the Article (der): Many nouns derived from strong verbs without an ending (like treten -> der Tritt - step/kick) are masculine. Think: aus (out) + der Tritt = der Austritt. Alternatively, remember that nouns ending in -itt are often masculine (der Schritt - step, der Ritt - ride, der Schnitt - cut).

For the Meanings: Imagine someone taking a big step (Tritt) out (aus) - they are leaving something (Austritt meaning 1: leaving). Or imagine something stepping out unintentionally, like gas or water leaking out (Austritt meaning 2: leakage).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Similar but Confusing Words:

• Der Auftritt: Appearance on stage or in public (opposite of Abgang).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat das Gespenst seinen Austritt aus dem Spukverein erklärt?

Es hatte einfach keine Lust mehr auf die alten Laken! 👻

(Why did the ghost declare its departure from the haunting club? - It just didn't feel like dealing with the old sheets anymore!)

📜 A Short Poem

Der Austritt leis', ein Abschiedswort,
Man geht von diesem Ort nun fort.
Ob Gas, ob Mensch, ob Wasser klar,
Der Austritt ist nun einmal da. Ein Ende hier, vielleicht ein Start?
Veränderung auf eigne Art.

(The Exit soft, a word goodbye,
One leaves this place, beneath the sky.
Be it gas, or man, or water clear,
The Exit simply now is here.
An end right here, perhaps a start?
A change that plays its own unique part.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Ende, doch kein Tod,
Mal aus Not, mal als Gebot.
Ich kann aus Rohren leise zischen,
Oder dich aus Listen wischen.

Was bin ich? (I am an end, but not death,
Sometimes from need, sometimes by decree's breath.
I can hiss quietly from pipes so thin,
Or wipe you off lists from within.)

(Answer: der Austritt)

🧩 More Tidbits

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung):

The word "Austritt" is a compound noun, composed of:

• aus- (prefix, meaning 'out', 'away from')
• der Tritt (noun, derived from the verb 'treten' - to step, to kick)

So, the literal meaning is something like an "outward step" or "stepping out".

Related Terms (Verwandte Begriffe): austreten (verb - to leave, to leak), austrittswillig (adjective - willing to leave), Austrittserklärung (noun - declaration of withdrawal/resignation), Austrittsstelle (noun - point of exit/leakage).