der  Autounfall

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊ̯toˌʔʊnfal/

🚗 What does "Autounfall" mean?

An Autounfall (der) refers to an unforeseen event in road traffic involving at least one car, resulting in property damage or personal injury. It's a compound noun formed from „Auto“ (car) and „Unfall“ (accident).

• It is a masculine noun, hence it is der Autounfall.
• It specifically describes accidents involving cars, unlike the more general term „Verkehrsunfall“ (traffic accident).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📜 Grammar of "der Autounfall" in Detail

The noun „Autounfall“ is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Leider gab es gestern einen schweren Autounfall auf der Autobahn.
   (Unfortunately, there was a serious car accident on the highway yesterday.)
2. Die Versicherung muss den Schaden des Autounfalls regulieren.
   (The insurance must settle the damage from the car accident.)
3. Nach dem Autounfall wurde er ins Krankenhaus gebracht.
   (After the car accident, he was taken to the hospital.)
4. Die Polizei untersucht die Ursache der vielen Autounfälle an dieser Kreuzung.
   (The police are investigating the cause of the many car accidents at this intersection.)

🗣️ How is "Autounfall" used?

The term „Autounfall“ is specifically used for collisions or other accident-like events involving cars.

• Context: Often found in news reports, police reports, insurance matters, and everyday conversation about traffic incidents.
• Common Adjectives: schwerer Autounfall (severe car accident), leichter Autounfall (minor car accident), tödlicher Autounfall (fatal car accident), tragischer Autounfall (tragic car accident).
• Differentiation: While „Unfall“ is general and „Verkehrsunfall“ covers all types of traffic accidents (including those with bicycles, pedestrians, etc.), „Autounfall“ is more specific to cars. However, it's sometimes used synonymously with „Verkehrsunfall“ when it's clear that cars were involved.
• Verbs: einen Autounfall haben (to have a car accident), in einen Autounfall verwickelt sein (to be involved in a car accident), einen Autounfall verursachen (to cause a car accident), einen Autounfall überleben (to survive a car accident).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Remembering the Article "der"

Remember: Der Unfall (the accident) is masculine. Even though a car, das Auto, is neuter, the main word "Unfall" determines the gender. Imagine a strong man (der Mann) lifting the car after an Unfall – der Autounfall.

Remembering the Meaning

The meaning is right there in the word: An accident involving a car (Auto) = Auto + Unfall = Autounfall (car accident).

↔️ Synonyms and Related Terms

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten nach dem Autounfall: „Wie konnten Sie nur die alte Dame überfahren?“
Antwortet der Angeklagte: „Herr Richter, wie soll ich denn wissen, wie alt die Dame war?“

Translation:
The judge asks the defendant after the car accident: "How could you run over the old lady?"
The defendant replies: "Your Honor, how was I supposed to know how old the lady was?"

✒️ Poem about the Autounfall

Blech verbogen, Glas zersplittert,
Ein Moment, die Welt erzittert.
Der Autounfall, Schreck und Schmerz,
Ein Stich ins unvorsichtige Herz.
Sirenen heulen in der Nacht,
Hat jemand nicht Acht gegeben, nicht bedacht?
Fahr stets vorsichtig, mit Bedacht,
Damit kein Unglück dir die Freude kracht.

Translation:
Metal bent, glass shattered,
A moment, the world trembled.
The car accident, shock and pain,
A stab into the careless heart.
Sirens wail in the night,
Did someone not pay attention, not think?
Always drive carefully, with consideration,
So that no misfortune crashes your joy.

❓ Riddle

Ich geschehe oft auf vier Rädern,
Bin meist plötzlich, kann dich lädern.
Blech und Scherben sind mein Zeichen,
Manchmal muss ein Leben weichen.
Die Versicherung wird gerufen,
Nach diesem Knall auf Straßenhufen.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: der Autounfall)

Translation:
I often happen on four wheels,
I'm usually sudden, can batter you.
Bent metal and shards are my sign,
Sometimes a life must yield.
The insurance is called,
After this bang on street hooves.

What am I?
(Answer: the car accident / der Autounfall)

🧩 Word Composition & Trivia

Word Components

The word „Autounfall“ is a compound noun (Kompositum), meaning it is composed of two words:

• Das Auto: Short form of Automobil (car).
• Der Unfall: (Accident) A sudden, involuntary, damaging event.

The gender of the compound noun is determined by the last word („Unfall“), which is why it is der Autounfall (masculine).

Trivia

The most common causes of car accidents in many countries are speeding, distraction (e.g., using mobile phones), and driving under the influence of alcohol.