der  Wegfall

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈveːkfal/

🤔 What exactly does 'Wegfall' mean?

Der Wegfall (masculine) describes the cessation, abolition, omission, elimination, or lapsing of something. It means that something is no longer present, no longer applies, or no longer takes place. It's a noun expressing a process or state of disappearing or being removed.

Imagine a rule being abolished – that's a Wegfall of the rule. Or when a position in a company is cut, one speaks of the Wegfall of that position.

There's only this one article, der, for Wegfall, which simplifies things. 🥳

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar: 'Der Wegfall' in Detail

The noun 'Wegfall' is masculine. It follows the strong declension pattern.

Singular Declension

Note: In the Genitive and Dative singular, two forms are often possible (-s/-es and -/ -e), with the shorter form being more common.

Plural Declension

The plural of 'Wegfall' is Wegfälle.

Example Sentences

1. Der Wegfall der Subventionen führte zu Protesten.
   (The abolition/cessation of subsidies led to protests.)
2. Wir bedauern den Wegfall dieser Dienstleistung.
   (We regret the discontinuation/elimination of this service.)
3. Der plötzliche Wegfall des Hauptdarstellers stellte das Theater vor Probleme.
   (The sudden absence/dropping out of the main actor posed problems for the theater.)
4. Mit dem Wegfall der alten Regelung wurde vieles einfacher.
   (With the lapsing/abolition of the old regulation, many things became simpler.)
5. Die Firma musste mehrere Wegfälle von Arbeitsplätzen bekannt geben.
   (The company had to announce several job cuts/eliminations.)

🚀 When to use 'Wegfall'? Context Matters!

'Wegfall' is often used in more formal contexts, especially in fields like administration (Verwaltung), law (Recht), economics (Wirtschaft), and politics (Politik). It typically describes the end or abolition of something established.

• Jobs: Der Wegfall von Arbeitsplätzen (job losses/elimination of jobs).
• Rules/Laws: Der Wegfall einer Vorschrift (abolition/lapsing of a regulation).
• Finances: Der Wegfall von Steuervorteilen oder Subventionen (elimination/cessation of tax benefits or subsidies).
• Offerings/Services: Der Wegfall eines Kursangebots (discontinuation of a course offering).

Comparison with similar words:

• Abschaffung: Often emphasizes the active process of abolishing something (e.g., die Abschaffung der Todesstrafe - the abolition of the death penalty). 'Wegfall' can also be the result, without focusing on the active process.
• Aufhebung: Similar to Abschaffung, often in a legal or administrative context (e.g., die Aufhebung eines Urteils - the overturning of a verdict).
• Einstellung: Often refers to the cessation of an activity or operation (e.g., die Einstellung der Produktion - the cessation of production).

'Wegfall' is generally more neutral and often simply describes the fact that something is no longer there.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Wegfall'

Remembering the article 'der':

Think of a stern, masculine figure, perhaps Der Boss (the boss), announcing der Wegfall (the abolition) of free donuts. It's a strong, 'male' decision.

Remembering the meaning:

Something goes 'weg' (away) and it's a 'Fall' (case/instance) of it being gone. It simply falls away. --> Wegfall (cessation, omission).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Be careful: Words like 'Ausfall' might sound similar but often refer to a sudden, unexpected event (e.g., Stromausfall - power outage), whereas 'Wegfall' often describes a more planned or resulting end.

😂 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den Mitarbeiter: "Haben Sie den Wegfall der Kaffeemaschine bemerkt?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Bemerkt? Ich feiere ihn! Endlich trinke ich weniger Kaffee!"

Translation:
The boss asks the employee: "Did you notice the removal/elimination of the coffee machine?"
The employee replies: "Notice it? I'm celebrating it! Finally, I'll drink less coffee!"

📜 Poem about Wegfall

Wo einst 'ne Regel Geltung fand,
ist jetzt nur leerer, weißer Sand.
Ein Posten, der besetzt mal war,
ist nun nicht mehr, das ist sonnenklar.
Der Staat die Hilfe nicht mehr schickt,
weil sie gestrichen, weggeknickt.
Dies nennt man kurz und ohne Knall:
Den schlichten, klaren Wegfall.

Translation:
Where once a rule held sway,
Is now just empty sand today.
A post that once was occupied,
Is gone now, clear and bona fide.
The state no longer sends its aid,
Because it's cancelled, unafraid.
This is called, without a fuss:
The simple, clear Wegfall for us.

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich bin das Ende, nicht der Start,
mach' Pläne oft zunichte, hart.
Gesetze, Posten, Privilegien,
sie können meinetwegen liegen.
Ich bin kein Ding, doch schaff' ich Raum,
beende manchen Lebenstraum.

Was bin ich? (Auflösung: Der Wegfall)

Translation:
I am the end, I'm not the start,
I often wreck plans, play a harsh part.
Laws, positions, privilege grand,
Because of me, they may not stand.
I am no thing, yet I make space,
Ending dreams in time and place.

What am I?
(Answer: Der Wegfall / Cessation, Omission)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word 'Wegfall' is a compound noun, composed of:

• weg-: Prefix/adverb, meaning 'away', 'gone'.
• Fall: Noun, here in the sense of 'case', 'instance', 'event', or 'circumstance' (not just 'fall' as in tumble).

Together, the meaning is: the circumstance of something being away/gone.

Nominalization:

'Wegfall' is the nominalization of the verb 'wegfallen' (to cease, to be omitted, to lapse).