die  Abgabe

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌɡaːbə/

📖 What does "die Abgabe" mean?

The word die Abgabe is a feminine noun and has several meanings, often related to handing something over or paying something:

• Tax, levy, contribution: A financial payment required by the state, an authority, or an organisation (e.g., Sozialabgaben - social security contributions, Steuerabgaben - tax payments).
• Submission, handover: The act of handing in or submitting documents, work, or items (e.g., die Abgabe einer Hausarbeit - the submission of a term paper, die Abgabe von Schlüsseln - handing over keys).
• Sale, dispensing (of goods): Selling or giving out things, often in a specific context (e.g., die Abgabe von Medikamenten nur auf Rezept - dispensing medication only with a prescription, die kostenlose Abgabe von Mustern - free distribution of samples).
• Sports (Pass): In football (soccer) or similar sports, passing the ball to a teammate (e.g., eine präzise Abgabe - a precise pass).
• Statement, declaration (less common): Making a statement or declaration (e.g., die Abgabe einer Stellungnahme - issuing a statement).

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: Die Abgabe

Die Abgabe is a feminine noun. The plural is die Abgaben.

Declension of "die Abgabe"

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Abgabe der Steuererklärung ist am 31. Juli fällig. (Meaning: submission)
   The submission of the tax return is due on July 31st.
2. Die Sozialabgaben werden direkt vom Lohn abgezogen. (Meaning: contributions/levies)
   The social security contributions are deducted directly from the salary.
3. Die Abgabe von Alkohol an Jugendliche ist verboten. (Meaning: dispensing/sale)
   Selling alcohol to minors is forbidden.
4. Der Stürmer machte eine schnelle Abgabe zum Mittelfeldspieler. (Meaning: pass in sports)
   The striker made a quick pass to the midfielder.

🗣️ How to use "die Abgabe"?

"Die Abgabe" is used in various contexts:

• Finance & Administration: Very common in relation to taxes (Steuerabgabe - tax payment), fees (Rundfunkabgabe - broadcasting fee), and social security contributions (Sozialabgaben).
• Education & Work: Often refers to submitting assignments or work (Abgabe der Masterarbeit - submission of the master's thesis, Abgabetermin - deadline/submission date).
• Trade & Services: When handing over or selling goods (Warenabgabe - release of goods, kostenlose Abgabe - free distribution).
• Law: When submitting declarations or documents (Abgabe einer eidesstattlichen Versicherung - submission of an affidavit).
• Sports: Mainly for passing the ball (kurze Abgabe - short pass, Fehlabgabe - misplaced pass).

The term usually implies an obligation (for taxes, submissions) or a deliberate action (handing over, passing).

💡 Mnemonics for "die Abgabe"

Article Mnemonic: Think of the related concepts: die Steuer (the tax), die Gebühr (the fee), die Einreichung (the submission). These are often things you have to 'give off' or hand over. They are feminine words in German, just like die Abgabe.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you have to give something 'ab' (off/away): you give ab your money (Abgabe as tax/fee), you give ab your homework (Abgabe as submission), you give ab the ball (Abgabe as pass). The prefix 'ab-' signals movement away from you.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different words:

• Die Aufgabe: Means 'task' or 'assignment' (e.g., Hausaufgabe - homework). It refers to the thing to be done, not the act of submitting it.
• Die Ausgabe: Can mean 'expense' or 'expenditure', but also 'distribution' (e.g., Essensausgabe - food distribution) or 'issue/edition' (e.g., neue Ausgabe einer Zeitung - new issue of a newspaper). It partly overlaps but 'Abgabe' emphasizes the act of giving/submitting more strongly.

😄 A little joke

Fragt der Finanzbeamte: "Haben Sie eigentlich Hobbys?"
Antwortet der Steuerzahler: "Ja, Steuererklärungen ausfüllen!"
Finanzbeamte: "Das ist doch kein Hobby!"
Steuerzahler: "Doch, doch! Ich mache es freiwillig, aber ungern und ohne Bezahlung! Das nennt man doch Hobby, oder? Es geht ja um die Abgabe..." 😉

Translation:
The tax officer asks: "Do you actually have any hobbies?"
The taxpayer replies: "Yes, filling out tax returns!"
Tax officer: "That's not a hobby!"
Taxpayer: "Oh yes! I do it voluntarily, but reluctantly and without pay! That's called a hobby, isn't it? It's all about the Abgabe (submission/payment)..." 😉

✍️ Poem about Abgabe

Die Frist rückt nah, die Zeit verrinnt,
Die Arbeit fertig, schnell geschwind.
Zur Post geeilt, ein letzter Blick,
Die Abgabe – welch ein Glück!
Ob Steuer, Thesis, altes Buch,
Das Abgeben ist oft ein Fluch,
Doch ist es fort, die Last ist klein,
So soll die Ordnung sein.

Translation:
The deadline nears, time slips away,
The work is done, without delay.
Rushed to the post, a final view,
The submission – lucky, it's through!
Be it tax, thesis, ancient lore,
Submitting's often quite a chore,
But once it's gone, the burden's light,
That's how order should be right.

🧩 Riddle

Ich bin oft ein fester Betrag,
Man zahlt mich ungern, Tag für Tag.
Mal reichst du mich als Dokument ein,
Mal bin ich nur ein kleiner Schein.
Im Sport werd' ich schnell zugespielt.

Wer bin ich wohl, was hier gefielt?

Translation:
I am often a fixed amount,
Paid reluctantly, day in, day out.
Sometimes you submit me as a file,
Sometimes I'm just a small note for a while.
In sports, I'm passed quickly with skill.

Who am I, pleasing here at will?

Solution: die Abgabe (the levy/submission/pass)

🧐 More Information

Word Composition:

The word "Abgabe" is composed of:

• Prefix ab-: indicates separation, removal, or completion.
• Root word Gabe: means gift, donation, or the act of giving itself.

Together, they form the meaning of giving away, handing over, or paying.

Trivia:

The term "Abgabe" in the sense of tax has a long history and was a method for financing community tasks or rulers even in early forms of society.