die  Abmachung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈapˌmaxʊŋ/

🤝 What does 'die Abmachung' mean?

Die Abmachung (feminine, plural: die Abmachungen) refers to an oral or written agreement between two or more people or parties. It's about agreeing on something, settling something, or making a commitment.

Essentially, it's a mutual promise or understanding to do or not do something specific. Abmachungen can be made in private settings (e.g., among friends) as well as in business or more formal contexts.

Although often informal, an Abmachung can certainly be binding. The exact level of commitment depends on the context and the nature of the agreement.

⚠️ Important: The word 'Abmachung' always takes the article 'die'. There are no variants with 'der' or 'das'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Abmachung

'Abmachung' is a feminine noun. The plural is formed by adding '-en': die Abmachungen.

📝 Example Sentences

• Wir haben eine klare Abmachung getroffen.
  (We made a clear agreement.)
• Erinnerst du dich an unsere Abmachung von letzter Woche?
  (Do you remember our agreement from last week?)
• Laut Abmachung treffen wir uns um 18 Uhr.
  (According to the agreement, we'll meet at 6 PM.)
• Die Parteien hielten sich nicht an die getroffenen Abmachungen.
  (The parties did not adhere to the agreements made.)
• Das war nicht Teil unserer ursprünglichen Abmachung!
  (That wasn't part of our original agreement!)

🗣️ How to use 'Abmachung'?

The word 'Abmachung' is frequently used in everyday language to describe informal or formal agreements.

• Context: It can refer to arrangements ("Unsere Abmachung steht: morgen um drei Uhr im Park." - Our arrangement stands: tomorrow at three o'clock in the park.), simple business deals ("Die Abmachung mit dem Lieferanten ist bestätigt." - The agreement with the supplier is confirmed.), or agreements within a group ("Die Abmachung in der WG ist, dass jeder einmal pro Woche putzt." - The agreement in the shared flat is that everyone cleans once a week.).
• Distinction:
  • Vereinbarung: Very similar and often interchangeable, sometimes sounds slightly more formal than 'Abmachung'.
  • Vertrag: Is usually written, legally binding, and much more formal than an 'Abmachung'. An 'Abmachung' can be verbal and doesn't always have legal enforceability.
  • Absprache: Similar to Abmachung, often emphasizes the process of consultation, can be even more informal.
• Tone: 'Abmachung' can sound neutral to slightly informal. In very formal legal or business contexts, 'Vereinbarung' or 'Vertrag' are often preferred.

💡 Mnemonics for Abmachung

Article 'die': Many German nouns ending in '-ung' are feminine (die Meinung - opinion, die Rechnung - bill, die Lösung - solution...). The same applies here: die Abmachung. Imagine a group of women making an agreement (-ung sounds a bit like 'young' women, maybe?). Or think: 'ung' endings often signify a process or result, which is an abstract concept often assigned 'die'.

Meaning: Think of the verb "abmachen" (to agree upon, to settle, also to remove). You 'make' something final, you settle it ('ab'). You 'make' a deal and consider the discussion closed ('ab'). So, die Abmachung is the result of 'making' an agreement.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

Misleading words?

Be careful not to confuse 'Abmachung' with 'Aufmachung' (presentation, layout, design) or 'Anmache' (cheesy pick-up line).

😂 A Little Joke

Zwei Freunde treffen eine Abmachung: "Okay, wer zuerst das Wort 'Abmachung' sagt, muss dem anderen einen Kaffee ausgeben."
Pause.
Freund 1: "Mist, das war jetzt aber keine gute... äh... Vereinbarung!"

(Two friends make an agreement: "Okay, whoever says the word 'Abmachung' first has to buy the other a coffee."
Pause.
Friend 1: "Damn, that wasn't a good... uh... arrangement!")

📜 Poem about Abmachung

Ein Handschlag, ein Wort, ganz klar,
so wird die Abmachung wahr.
Was zwei sich fest versprechen,
soll keiner leichtlich brechen.

Ob groß, ob klein, ob laut, ob leis',
sie gibt dem Handeln festen Gleis.
Die Abmachung, gut bedacht,
hat schon viel Gutes oft gebracht.

(A handshake, a word, quite clear,
makes the agreement appear.
What two firmly promise each other,
no one should easily break or smother.)

(Be it big, small, loud, or low,
it sets actions on a steady row.
The agreement, well thought out,
has often brought much good about.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich werde oft getroffen, manchmal gebrochen.
Ich kann mündlich sein oder auf Papier gekrochen.
Zwei oder mehr einigen sich durch mich,
mal bin ich privat, mal öffentlich.

Was bin ich?

(I am often made, sometimes broken.
I can be spoken or crawled onto paper.
Two or more agree through me,
sometimes I'm private, sometimes public, you see.)

(What am I?)
(Answer: die Abmachung)

✨ Other Information

Word Formation:

'Abmachung' is a noun derived from the verb 'abmachen'. The verb 'abmachen' means, among other things, 'to agree upon', 'to settle', or also 'to remove'. The suffix '-ung' here serves to nominalize the verb and makes the word feminine.

• ab (prefix, here in the sense of 'settling', 'concluding')
• mach(en) (verb stem of 'machen' - to make/do)
• -ung (suffix for forming feminine nouns from verbs)

It expresses the result of 'abmachen' – meaning the agreement itself that has been made.