die  Abfuhr

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌfuːɐ̯/

🧐 What does "die Abfuhr" mean?

The German word die Abfuhr (feminine) primarily has two meanings:

1. Rejection, refusal, snub: This is the most common meaning in a social context. Eine Abfuhr erleiden means to experience a rejection, that a wish, request, proposal, or advance (often romantic) is turned down. It describes a clear and often brusque refusal.
2. Removal, disposal, carting away: This meaning refers to the physical removal of things, especially waste or rubbish (Müllabfuhr - waste collection). However, it can also refer to the removal of other goods.

🚨 Context is key! Whether it's about social rejection or waste removal usually becomes clear from the situation.

📚 Grammar of "die Abfuhr" in Detail

"Abfuhr" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension

💡 Example Sentences

1. (Rejection) Er hat ihr seine Liebe gestanden, aber eine klare Abfuhr erhalten.
   (He confessed his love to her but received a clear rejection.)
2. (Rejection) Der Politiker erlitt bei der Abstimmung eine herbe Abfuhr.
   (The politician suffered a bitter rebuff/defeat in the vote.)
3. (Removal) Die Abfuhr des Sperrmülls erfolgt nächste Woche Dienstag.
   (The removal of the bulky waste takes place next Tuesday.)
4. (Removal) Für die Abfuhr der alten Möbel müssen wir eine Spedition beauftragen.
   (For the removal of the old furniture, we have to hire a transport company.)

🗣️ How to use "die Abfuhr"?

The usage of die Abfuhr heavily depends on the context:

• Social Rejection: Here, the word is often used with emotional weight. One speaks of eine Abfuhr erleiden (to suffer a rejection) or eine Abfuhr bekommen/kassieren (to get/receive a rejection). It often implies disappointment or hurt. Colloquially, jemandem eine Abfuhr erteilen (to give someone a rejection/snub) is also common. Similar is der Korb (literally 'the basket', as in jemandem einen Korb geben - to turn someone down romantically), but this is mostly limited to romantic rejection.
• Physical Removal: In this context, the term is neutral and factual. It's often used in relation to logistics, disposal, or transport (e.g., Müllabfuhr - waste collection, Schuttabfuhr - rubble removal). There's rarely an emotional connotation here.

⚠️ Be careful: Although both meanings exist, die Abfuhr in everyday conversation is more frequently understood as rejection if the context doesn't clearly indicate transport or disposal.

🧠 Memory Aids for "die Abfuhr"

Article Mnemonic: Think of rejection or removal often being final, like an end. Feminine nouns often end in -e in German, and die is the feminine article. Imagine saying "Die end!" for the rejection or the removal.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you want to give something ab (away/off), like your affection or your trash, but someone führt (leads/carts) you or the thing away – that's the Abfuhr (rejection or removal).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• die Anfuhr: Bringing in materials (rare, usually Zufuhr/Anlieferung).
• die Ausfuhr: Export.

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Müllmann seinen Kollegen: "Hast du gestern auch so eine komische Abfuhr bekommen?"
Sagt der Kollege: "Wieso? Hat deine Frau auch wieder mit dir Schluss gemacht?"

Translation:

The garbage collector asks his colleague: "Did you also get such a strange Abfuhr yesterday?"
The colleague replies: "Why? Did your wife break up with you again too?"
(Plays on the double meaning: 'Abfuhr' as waste collection route and as rejection)

📜 Poem about Abfuhr

Ein Werben, ein Hoffen, ein leises Fleh'n,
doch Worte, so kalt, ließen Hoffnung vergeh'n.
Eine Abfuhr, so klar, wie die winterlich' Nacht,
hat Träume zerschlagen mit schneidender Macht.

Doch auch Müll muss fort, was alt und verbraucht,
die Abfuhr kommt pünktlich, wie's Leben es braucht.
Sie schafft wieder Platz, für Neues, für Licht,
ob Herz oder Straße – sie erfüllt ihre Pflicht.

Translation:

A wooing, a hoping, a soft, gentle plea,
But words, oh so cold, made hope cease to be.
A rejection (Abfuhr), as clear as a wintery night,
Has shattered the dreams with its cutting might.

But trash must go too, what's old and consumed,
The removal (Abfuhr) arrives punctually, as life has presumed.
It makes space again, for the new, for the light,
Be it heart or the street – it fulfills its duty right.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich kann ein Herz zerbrechen kalt,
bin manchmal jung, manchmal alt.
Ich nehme mit, was keiner will,
mal laut und grob, mal leise, still.

Was bin ich?
... Die Abfuhr

Translation:

I can break a heart so cold,
Am sometimes young, sometimes old.
I take away what no one wants kept,
Sometimes loud and rough, sometimes quiet, inept.

What am I?
... Die Abfuhr (Rejection / Removal)

➕ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Abfuhr" is composed of:

• ab-: Prefix indicating separation, removal, or downward movement (as in abfahren - to depart, ablehnen - to reject).
• Fuhr: Noun derived from the verb stem of "fahren" (to drive, travel) or "führen" (to lead, guide) in the sense of transporting/moving. A "Fuhr" originally meant a cartload or the journey itself.

So, the combination suggests a "driving away" or "leading away", which reflects both main meanings (removal of waste, rejection/dismissal of a person).

Cultural Context: Eine Abfuhr erleiden (to suffer a rejection) is a common idiom in German, often associated with social embarrassment or disappointment.