der  Auszubildende

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌtsuːbɪldəndə/

🧑‍🔧 What does "der Auszubildende" mean?

Der Auszubildende refers to a male person undergoing vocational training or an apprenticeship. This training usually takes place in a dual system (duales System), meaning partly in a company (Betrieb) and partly in a vocational school (Berufsschule).

Grammatically, it's a nominalized present participle (substantiviertes Partizip I) of the verb auszubilden (to train, to educate).

Important forms:

• der Auszubildende: male trainee/apprentice (singular)
• die Auszubildende: female trainee/apprentice (singular)
• die Auszubildenden: multiple trainees/apprentices (plural, male, female or mixed)

🚨 Colloquially, the short form "der Azubi" (for males) or "die Azubi" (for females), plural "die Azubis" is very common.

📐 Grammar Guide for 'der Auszubildende'

The word "Auszubildende" is declined like an adjective following a definite article (der, die, das). This is known as the weak declension of nominalized adjectives/participles.

Masculine (der Auszubildende)

Plural (die Auszubildenden)

👉 Note: Declension after an indefinite article (ein Auszubildender, eines Auszubildenden, etc.) or without an article (Auszubildender, Auszubildendem, etc.) follows different patterns (strong or mixed declension).

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Auszubildende lernt im ersten Lehrjahr die Grundlagen.
   (The male trainee learns the basics in the first year of training.)
2. Das Werkzeug des Auszubildenden liegt auf der Werkbank.
   (The male trainee's tool is on the workbench.)
3. Der Meister gibt dem Auszubildenden neue Aufgaben.
   (The master craftsman gives the male trainee new tasks.)
4. Wir suchen einen Auszubildenden für unser Team.
   (We are looking for a male trainee for our team.) (Accusative with indefinite article)
5. Viele Auszubildende besuchen die Berufsschule zweimal pro Woche.
   (Many trainees attend vocational school twice a week.)

🔧 Context and Usage

"Der Auszubildende" is the formal and official term for a male person in vocational training in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. It's used in contracts (Verträge), certificates (Zeugnisse), and formal correspondence.

• Formal Context: "Der Auszubildende hat seine Prüfung erfolgreich bestanden." (The trainee passed his exam successfully.)
• Colloquial Use: In everyday language, the abbreviation "Azubi" is frequently used. "Der neue Azubi fängt heute an." (The new trainee starts today.) This is less formal.
• Distinction: An Praktikant (intern) gains initial experience but is usually not in a formal training relationship with a final qualification goal. A Student or Studierender is enrolled in higher education at a university. A Lehrling is an older but still used term for apprentice/trainee, especially in crafts.

⚠️ Pay attention to the correct ending depending on gender (male/female) and case!

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

Remembering the Meaning: Think of "aus" (out of / from) + "zu bilden" (to educate/form). The Auszubildende is the one who *is to be educated* out of existing knowledge and formed into a skilled worker.

Remembering the Forms (Azubi): Think of the abbreviation A-zu-bi. It helps recall the longer, formal word Auszubildende. It's like saying "Apprentice zu (to) bi (be)" -> Azubi!

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but different terms:

• Studierender / Student: (University student) Person in higher education.
• Praktikant / Praktikantin: (Intern) Person doing an internship (often shorter, less formalized than an apprenticeship).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Meister den neuen Auszubildenden: "Kannst du mir bitte das lange Ende vom Faden holen?"
Der Auszubildende sucht und sucht und kommt nach einer Stunde zurück: "Meister, ich kann es nicht finden! Es scheint, jemand hat es abgeschnitten!"

Translation:
The master craftsman asks the new trainee: "Could you please fetch me the long end of the thread?"
The trainee searches and searches and comes back after an hour: "Master, I can't find it! It seems someone cut it off!"

✍️ Poem about the Trainee

Der Auszubildende, jung und frisch,
Lernt den Beruf, am Werkstatt-Tisch.
Feilen, schrauben, messen, bohren,
Hat den Meister in den Ohren.

Manchmal schwer, doch voller Mut,
Bald ist er fertig, das wird gut!
Mit Wissen, Können, neuem Schwung,
Hält er die Zukunft in Bewegung.

Translation:
The trainee, young and fresh,
Learns the trade, at the workshop bench.
Filing, screwing, measuring, drilling,
Has the master's voice filling (his ears).

Sometimes hard, but full of courage,
Soon he'll be done, it will be good.
With knowledge, skill, new momentum,
He keeps the future in motion.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich lerne einen Beruf von Grund auf,
Im Betrieb und in der Schule nehm' ich's auf.
Ich bin noch kein Meister, doch das ist mein Ziel,
Wer bin ich, mit Fleiß und Fingerspitzengefühl?

Lösung: Der Auszubildende (oder Azubi)

Translation:
I learn a profession from scratch,
In the company and at school, I catch.
I'm not a master yet, but that's my goal,
Who am I, with diligence and sensitive soul (lit. fingertip feeling)?

Solution: The male trainee (or Azubi)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition: The word "Auszubildende" derives from the verb "ausbilden" (to train, educate). More precisely, it's the nominalized present participle I (Partizip Präsens) of "auszubilden" (infinitive with "zu"). It thus describes a person who is to be trained right now.

Importance in the System: The dual vocational training system (duale Berufsausbildung) involving Auszubildende is a cornerstone of the German education system and a significant factor for the economy, producing highly skilled workers (Fachkräfte).