die
Abzocke
💰 What exactly is 'die Abzocke'?
Die Abzocke (feminine, plural: die Abzocken) is a colloquial, strongly negative German term for a rip-off, scam, or a situation where someone charges excessively high prices for goods or services, or unfairly takes too much money through dishonest methods. It implies deliberate deception or exploitation to the financial disadvantage of others.
Essentially, it describes a situation where you feel abgezockt (ripped off), meaning cheated and treated unfairly, usually in a financial context.
🚨 Attention: The term is very informal and should be avoided in formal contexts. Use more neutral words like Betrug (fraud), Übervorteilung (exploitation), or Wucher (usury) instead.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-e/-ee → almost always feminine.
There are many -e nouns, many of which are feminine, but there are also some important exceptions.
🧐 Grammar Deep Dive: Die Abzocke
Die Abzocke is a feminine noun. It's mostly used in the singular, but the plural die Abzocken is possible when referring to multiple instances of rip-offs.
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die | Abzocke | (Subject) |
| Genitiv | der | Abzocke | (Possessive) |
| Dativ | der | Abzocke | (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusativ | die | Abzocke | (Direct Object) |
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Case) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | die | Abzocken | (Subject) |
| Genitiv | der | Abzocken | (Possessive) |
| Dativ | den | Abzocken | (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusativ | die | Abzocken | (Direct Object) |
📝 Example Sentences
- Die Preise in diesem Touristenlokal sind reine Abzocke!
(The prices in this tourist restaurant are a total rip-off!) - Er warnte seine Freunde vor der Abzocke mit den überteuerten Handyverträgen.
(He warned his friends about the rip-off with the overpriced mobile phone contracts.) - Viele Konsumentenschützer kämpfen gegen solche Abzocken im Internet.
(Many consumer advocates fight against such scams on the internet.)
🗣️ Everyday Usage
Die Abzocke is frequently used to express displeasure about perceived financial injustice. Typical contexts include:
- Tourism: Overpriced souvenirs, hidden costs in tours, unfair exchange rates.
- Services: High bills from craftsmen without clear itemization, opaque contracts (e.g., mobile phone, gym memberships).
- Online Shopping: Hidden fees, misleading advertising, problems with returns.
- General Pricing: When a price is felt to be disproportionately high compared to the value received.
The related verb is abzocken (jemanden abzocken = to rip someone off financially).
Comparison: While Betrug (fraud) often refers to a legal offense, Abzocke is more of a subjective feeling of unfairness, which may not always be illegal (e.g., Wucher - usury - is often difficult to prove legally).
🧠 Mnemonics & Memory Aids
Article Mnemonic (die): Think of "the bill" (die Rechnung) or "the nasty surprise" (die böse Überraschung) – both often associated with feminine nouns in German and both potential results of an Abzocke.
Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone unfairly 'zocking' (from zocken - originally gambling, here meaning to cheat/fleece) your money 'ab' (away) from you – that's Abzocke, they're ripping you 'off'.
↔️ Opposites and Similar Terms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Der Betrug: Fraud, often criminal, deception for financial gain.
- Der Wucher: Usury, exploiting a situation of need or inexperience with excessive prices (legally relevant).
- Der Nepp: Colloquial, similar to Abzocke, often used in tourism contexts.
- Die Gaunerei: Roguery, dishonest or fraudulent behavior.
- Die Übervorteilung: Taking unfair advantage of someone.
Antonyms (Opposites):
- Das Schnäppchen: Bargain, a very good deal.
- Der faire Preis: Fair price, appropriate payment for a service/product.
- Das gute Angebot: Good offer, fair value for money.
- Die Kulanz: Goodwill, accommodating behavior (e.g., with complaints).
⚠️ Caution: Der Abzug can mean deduction (of money), but not necessarily in the sense of a rip-off, e.g., tax deductions.
😂 A Little Joke
German: Fragt der Richter den Angeklagten: "Warum haben Sie dem Touristen für die Taxifahrt 200 Euro berechnet?" Antwortet der Taxifahrer: "Naja, Herr Richter, er hat gefragt, was die Fahrt zum Flughafen kostet. Er hat nicht gefragt, zu welchem Flughafen!"
English Translation: The judge asks the defendant: "Why did you charge the tourist 200 euros for the taxi ride?" The taxi driver replies: "Well, Your Honor, he asked how much the ride to the airport costs. He didn't ask which airport!"
📜 Poem about the Rip-off
German:
Ein Lächeln falsch, der Preis zu hoch,
die Leistung klein, man ärgert sich doch.
Versteckte Kosten, Kleingedrucktes fies,
das nennt man Abzocke, süß und mies.
Man zahlt und flucht, fühlt sich betrogen,
von falschen Versprechen angelogen.
English Translation:
A fake smile, the price too high,
the service small, it makes you sigh.
Hidden costs, fine print so mean,
that's called a rip-off, sweet and keen.
You pay and curse, feel deceived,
by false promises, unbelieved.
🤔 A Little Riddle
German:
Ich nehme viel, doch geb' nur wenig,
mach' Arme ärmer, Reiche königlich.
Ich locke mit Schein, doch dahinter der Stich,
bin unfair im Handel, wie nennst du mich?
English Translation:
I take a lot, but give just a little,
making the poor poorer, the rich quite brittle (figuratively 'kingly').
I lure with appearance, but behind lies the sting,
I'm unfair in trade, what name do I bring?
Solution: die Abzocke (the rip-off)
🧩 Further Details
Word Composition: The word Abzocke is a nominalization (making a noun) of the verb abzocken. This verb is composed of the prefix ab- (away, off) and the colloquial verb zocken (originally 'to gamble', used here in the sense of 'to fleece', 'to cheat someone').
Cultural Context: The term is widely understood in German-speaking countries and reflects a general awareness and distrust of potentially unfair business practices. Consumer protection agencies often warn about various forms of Abzocke.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Abzocke?
The word Abzocke is always feminine. The correct article is die: die Abzocke (Nominative/Accusative Singular), der Abzocke (Genitive/Dative Singular).