die  Abbuchung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌbʊxʊŋ/

💸 What Exactly is an Abbuchung?

Die Abbuchung (noun, feminine) refers to the process where an amount of money is debited from an account, meaning it is withdrawn or deducted. It represents a charge against the account.

Typically, this happens:

• With card payments (EC card, credit card)
• When transferring money from your account to another
• With a 'Lastschrift' (direct debit), where a payee is authorized to collect money from your account (e.g., for rent, electricity, subscriptions).

Essentially, it's the opposite of a 'Gutschrift' (credit) or 'Einzahlung' (deposit).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: die Abbuchung

The word "Abbuchung" is a feminine noun. The article is therefore "die". Nouns ending in "-ung" are almost always feminine in German.

Declension

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die monatliche Abbuchung für die Miete erfolgt immer am Ersten.
   (The monthly debit for the rent always occurs on the first.)
2. Ich habe eine unerklärliche Abbuchung auf meinem Kontoauszug entdeckt.
   (I discovered an inexplicable debit on my bank statement.)
3. Bitte prüfen Sie die regelmäßigen Abbuchungen von Ihrem Konto.
   (Please check the regular debits from your account.)
4. Die Abbuchung des Betrags erfolgt nach Versand der Ware.
   (The amount will be debited after the goods have been shipped.)

🏦 When and How is "Abbuchung" Used?

The term "die Abbuchung" is firmly established in the world of finance and banking. You will mainly encounter it in the following contexts:

• Kontoauszüge (Bank statements): All debits ('Abbuchungen') and credits ('Gutschriften') are listed here.
• Lastschriftverfahren (Direct debit procedure): You grant a 'Einzugsermächtigung' (direct debit mandate), which allows regular 'Abbuchungen' (e.g., for insurance, membership fees).
• Online-Banking: When checking account movements, you see the individual 'Abbuchungen'.
• Verträge (Contracts): Contracts (e.g., mobile phone, gym) often specify the date or due date of the 'Abbuchung'.

Colloquially, Germans might simply say that money "geht ab" (comes off) or "ist runter" (is down), but in formal contexts, "Abbuchung" is the correct term for an account debit.

⚠️ Important: Do not confuse "die Abbuchung" (the act of debiting money) with "die Buchung" (a general entry on an account, which could also be a credit) or "die Überweisung" (the active process of sending money to someone else).

🧠 Mnemonics for Abbuchung

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine ('die'). Think of other "-ung" words like "die Rechnung" (the bill), "die Zeitung" (the newspaper). The "-ung" ending strongly signals die!

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the prefix "ab-" as meaning "off" or "down". An Abbuchung means money goes off your account. Your balance goes down. Imagine the account balance sliding down.

🔄 Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

🚨 Potentially Confusing Words:

• Die Buchung: Can be a debit ('Abbuchung') or a credit ('Gutschrift'); a general booking or entry.
• Die Rechnung: Bill or invoice; often leads to an 'Abbuchung', but isn't the debit itself.

😄 A Little Financial Joke

Fragt der Bankberater den Kunden: "Haben Sie Hobbys?"
Kunde: "Ja, Kontoauszüge sammeln. Da sieht man so schön, wohin das ganze Geld durch die vielen Abbuchungen verschwindet!"

Translation:
The bank advisor asks the customer: "Do you have any hobbies?"
Customer: "Yes, collecting bank statements. It's nice to see where all the money disappears to through the many debits!"

🎤 Debit Rap

Kontoauszug, Schreck lass nach,
schon wieder eine Abbuchung wach.
Miete, Strom und Telefon,
das Geld ist weg, man kennt das schon.
Ein Klick, ein Swipe, ein Dauerlauf,
die Abbuchungen nehmen ihren Lauf.
Am Monatsende, oh welch Graus,
geht mehr Geld ab als rein ins Haus!

Translation:
Bank statement, oh what a fright,
another debit coming to light.
Rent, power, and telephone,
the money's gone, as is well known.
A click, a swipe, a constant run,
the debits happen, one by one.
At month's end, oh what dread,
more money out than earned instead!

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Vorgang, meist digital,
und mindere deines Kontos Zahl.
Mal klein, mal groß, mal jeden Monat,
ich sorge dafür, dass Geld dich verlässt, na sowas!

Was bin ich?

Translation:
I am a process, mostly digital,
and I reduce your account's total.
Sometimes small, sometimes large, sometimes every month,
I ensure that money leaves you, wouldn't you know it!

What am I?
(... Die Abbuchung / A debit)

🧩 Word Components & Other Info

The word "Abbuchung" is composed of:

• ab-: Prefix, meaning 'off', 'down', 'away' here.
• buch(en): Verb stem from "buchen", meaning 'to book' or 'to post' in an accounting sense.
• -ung: Suffix used to form nouns from verbs, usually denoting a process or result. This ending makes the noun feminine ('die').

Trivia: In the digital age, most 'Abbuchungen' (debits) occur automatically and instantaneously, making constant monitoring of account activity advisable.