die  Abwanderung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʔapvandɐʁʊŋ/

🚶‍♀️ What does "die Abwanderung" mean?

Die Abwanderung describes the process of individuals or groups leaving a place, region, or country permanently or for an extended period. It's a form of migration focusing on departure from the place of origin.

Common contexts include:

• Economic migration (wirtschaftliche Abwanderung): People move away to find better jobs or living conditions elsewhere.
• Rural exodus (Landflucht): The migration of people from rural areas to cities.
• Brain drain (Fachkräfteabwanderung): Highly skilled professionals leaving their country or region.
• Capital flight (Abwanderung von Kapital): Shifting investments abroad.

The word is always feminine: die Abwanderung. 🚨 There are no other articles for this noun.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "die Abwanderung" in Detail

"Abwanderung" is a feminine noun. It is mostly used in the singular as it often describes a process or a collective phenomenon. The plural "die Abwanderungen" is rare and refers to multiple specific, separate migration movements.

Example Sentences

1. Die Abwanderung junger Menschen aus der Region ist ein großes Problem.
   (The migration of young people from the region is a big problem.)
2. Man spricht von einer starken Abwanderung von Fachkräften ins Ausland.
   (There is talk of a strong emigration of skilled workers abroad / a strong brain drain.)
3. Die Gründe für die Abwanderung sind vielfältig.
   (The reasons for the migration/emigration are diverse.)
4. Historische Abwanderungen prägten die Bevölkerungsstruktur Europas. (Plural, rare)
   (Historical migrations shaped the population structure of Europe.)

🌍 How and When to Use "Abwanderung"?

"Die Abwanderung" is mainly used in formal contexts, especially in news reports, political discussions, sociological, and economic analyses.

• Context: Often has negative connotations, as it represents a loss for the region of origin (e.g., loss of workforce, tax revenue, young people).
• Typical collocations: starke/hohe/zunehmende Abwanderung (strong/high/increasing migration/outflow), Abwanderung stoppen/verhindern (to stop/prevent migration/outflow), Gründe für die Abwanderung (reasons for migration/outflow).
• Distinction:
  • Auswanderung/Emigration: Leaving one's own country to live in another. "Abwanderung" can also mean internal migration (like Landflucht - rural exodus) or moving out of a specific sector (e.g., from agriculture).
  • Migration/Wanderung: More general term for any spatial movement of people. "Abwanderung" emphasizes leaving a place.
  • Zuwanderung/Einwanderung/Immigration: Arriving in a new place/country (the opposite).

One can speak of Abwanderung aus (from) a region/country or in (into) another region/country, with the focus remaining on the point of departure.

🧠 Mnemonics for Abwanderung

Article Mnemonic: Think of die Wanderung (the hike, the migration). A hike/migration is feminine. Abwanderung is just a specific type of Wanderung (moving away from something), so it also stays feminine: die Abwanderung.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone wandering (wandern 🚶‍♀️), but with the prefix "ab-", which often means "away" or "off" (like in abfahren - to depart, abgehen - to leave). So: wandering away = Abwanderung. They are going 'ab' (away) from the current place.

↔️ Antonyms and Synonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Wanderung: Can also mean hiking. In the context of migration, it's more general than Abwanderung.
• Auswanderung: Refers specifically to leaving one's home country.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer eine hohe Abwanderungsrate bei seinen Dateien beantragt?
Weil er zu viele Cookies hatte und Angst vor dem 'Brain Drain' seiner Festplatte bekam! 🍪💾💨

Translation: Why did the computer apply for a high migration rate for its files?
Because it had too many cookies and was afraid of a 'brain drain' from its hard drive!

📜 Poem about Abwanderung

Das Dorf wird leer, die Straßen still,
die Abwanderung zeigt ihr kühles Spiel.
Wo einst gelacht, wo Leben war,
ist heute Stille, Jahr für Jahr.
Die Jugend zieht zur Stadt, zum Licht,
hinterlässt ein trauriges Gesicht.
Ein leiser Abschied, schwer und lang,
der leisen Hoffnung letzter Klang.

Translation:
The village empties, streets grow still,
The outward migration shows its chill skill.
Where once was laughter, life held sway,
Now silence reigns, year after day.
The youth depart for city light,
Leaving behind a mournful sight.
A quiet farewell, heavy, long,
Of fading hope, the final song.

❓ Little Riddle

Ich bin ein Strom, doch ohne Wasser,
mache Orte manchmal blasser.
Ich nehme Menschen mit mir fort,
an einen neuen, fernen Ort.
Bin ich stark, wird's mancherorts leer,
das Gegenteil wünscht man sich oft sehr.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Abwanderung)

Translation:
I am a current, but without water,
I sometimes make places paler, shorter.
I take people away with me,
To a new place, far to see.
If I am strong, some places empty out,
The opposite is wished for, without a doubt.

What am I? (Answer: die Abwanderung / migration, emigration, outflow)

💡 Other Information

Word Composition

The word "Abwanderung" is composed of:

• ab-: A prefix often indicating separation, removal, or departure (e.g., abfahren - to depart, absagen - to cancel).
• Wanderung: Refers to wandering, moving, or migrating. The base word "Wanderung" is feminine (die Wanderung), which determines the gender of "Abwanderung".

Related Concepts

"Abwanderung" is a key term in demography, sociology, and economics used to describe population movements and their impact on societies and economies.