die  Ablehnung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌleːnʊŋ/

🙅‍♀️ What exactly is 'Ablehnung'?

Die Ablehnung is a feminine German noun meaning rejection, refusal, or denial. It's the opposite of Annahme (acceptance) or Zustimmung (approval).

It can refer to various contexts:

• A personal rejection (e.g., die Ablehnung eines Freundschaftsangebots - the rejection of an offer of friendship)
• A formal refusal (e.g., die Ablehnung eines Antrags bei einer Behörde - the refusal of an application by an authority)
• A negative assessment (e.g., die Ablehnung eines Manuskripts durch einen Verlag - the rejection of a manuscript by a publisher)

The word is almost exclusively used in the singular. The plural Ablehnungen is rare and refers to multiple individual acts of rejection.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Ablehnung

The noun 'Ablehnung' is feminine. The article is 'die'. Nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine in German.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension (rare)

Example Sentences ✍️

• Seine Ablehnung des Angebots war überraschend.
  (His rejection of the offer was surprising.)
• Sie erhielt einen Brief mit der Ablehnung ihres Antrags.
  (She received a letter with the refusal of her application.)
• Die Partei erfuhr eine klare Ablehnung durch die Wähler.
  (The party experienced a clear rejection by the voters.)
• Trotz wiederholter Ablehnungen gab er nicht auf. (rare plural)
  (Despite repeated rejections, he didn't give up.)

💬 How to use 'Ablehnung'?

'Ablehnung' is frequently used in formal and official contexts, especially concerning applications, proposals, or legal matters (e.g., Ablehnung eines Visums - refusal of a visa, Ablehnung einer Klage - dismissal of a lawsuit).

In personal contexts, it often expresses rejection or disapproval (e.g., Ablehnung erfahren - to experience rejection, seine Ablehnung äußern - to express one's disapproval/rejection).

Typical Collocations:

• auf Ablehnung stoßen: To meet with rejection/disapproval. (Sein Vorschlag stieß auf Ablehnung. - His proposal met with rejection.)
• eine Ablehnung erhalten/bekommen: To receive a refusal/rejection. (Er erhielt die Ablehnung seiner Bewerbung. - He received the rejection of his application.)
• seine Ablehnung ausdrücken/äußern: To express one's rejection/disapproval. (Sie äußerte ihre klare Ablehnung gegenüber dem Plan. - She expressed her clear disapproval of the plan.)

Compared to words like Nein (no) or Absage (cancellation, refusal for appointments/applications), 'Ablehnung' is often more formal and emphasizes the act of rejection itself.

🧠 Mnemonics for Ablehnung

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in -ung in German are almost always feminine. Think of the ending -ung like a strong Queen giving a command - she decides, so it's die Ablehnung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Think of the parts: "ab" (away, off) and "lehnen" (to lean). When you ablehnen something, you 'lean away' from it. Die Ablehnung is the result of this 'leaning away' – the rejection.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Caution: Not all synonyms are interchangeable in every context. Nuances matter!

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Antragsteller seinen Ablehnungsbescheid eingerahmt?
(Why did the applicant frame his rejection notice?)

Er sagte: "Das ist die einzige Form von Aufmerksamkeit, die ich von dieser Behörde je bekommen habe!" 😉
(He said: "It's the only form of attention I've ever received from this authority!")

📜 Poem about Rejection

Ein Nein, ein Wort, so kurz und klar,
die Ablehnung, oft schwer, doch wahr.
Ein Antrag fort, die Hoffnung schwand,
ein Brief besiegelt's, von fremder Hand.

Doch Ablehnung muss kein Ende sein,
kann auch ein neuer Anfang schein'.
Man lernt daraus, steht wieder auf,
nimmt neuen Mut und Kraft in Kauf.

---
A 'no', a word so short and clear,
the rejection, often hard, but real.
A request denied, hope starts to fade,
a letter seals it, by another made.

But rejection doesn't have to be the end,
It can also be a new start, my friend.
One learns from it, stands up anew,
Takes fresh courage and strength too.

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Wort, das oft nicht gefällt,
wenn ein Wunsch oder Plan zerschellt.
Ich komme per Brief oder mündlichem Wort,
und schicke die Hoffnung oft wieder fort.
Man stößt auf mich, wenn man nicht passt,
ob bei Liebe, Job oder Antragslast.

Was bin ich?
(What am I?)

Solution: die Ablehnung (the rejection)

✨ Other Information

Word Composition:

'Ablehnung' is a noun derived from the verb 'ablehnen' (to reject, to refuse). 'Ablehnen' itself is composed of:

• ab-: A prefix often indicating separation, removal, or negation (as in absagen - to cancel, abwenden - to turn away).
• lehnen: Originally 'to lean', but here more in the figurative sense of 'to be inclined towards', 'to approve'.

So, 'ablehnen' literally means something like 'to lean away from', which nicely captures the idea of rejection.

Psychological Aspect: Experiencing Ablehnung can be emotionally very challenging and is a significant topic in psychology (e.g., fear of rejection).