die  Ausgabe

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌɡaːbə/

📚 What does "die Ausgabe" mean?

The word die Ausgabe is a feminine noun in German and has several meanings:

• Finance 💰: The amount spent on something; expense, expenditure, spending. (Plural: die Ausgaben)
  Example: Die monatlichen Ausgaben für Miete sind hoch. (The monthly expenses for rent are high.)
• Publication 📰: A specific version or number of a magazine, newspaper, or book; edition, issue.
  Example: Hast du die neueste Ausgabe der Zeitschrift gelesen? (Have you read the latest issue of the magazine?)
• Distribution/Issuing 📮: The act of distributing or handing something out (e.g., goods, documents, food); distribution, issuing, dispensing.
  Example: Die Ausgabe der Pässe erfolgt am Schalter 3. (The issuing of passports takes place at counter 3.)
• Technology/Computing 💻: The result or signal produced by a device or system (e.g., audio output, print output); output.
  Example: Die Audio-Ausgabe dieses Laptops ist sehr gut. (The audio output of this laptop is very good.)

🚨 Be careful not to confuse die Ausgabe (feminine) with die Aufgabe (feminine, = task, assignment)!

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar in Detail: die Ausgabe

Die Ausgabe is a feminine noun. The plural is die Ausgaben.

Singular Declension

Plural Declension

📝 Usage Examples

• Nominative: Die Ausgabe des Magazins ist vergriffen. (The issue of the magazine is out of print.)
• Genitive: Wegen der hohen Ausgaben müssen wir sparen. (Because of the high expenses, we have to save money.)
• Dative: Ich stimme der Ausgabe von mehr Geld nicht zu. (I do not agree with the spending of more money.)
• Accusative: Er kontrolliert die Ausgaben sehr genau. (He controls the expenses very precisely.)

💡 How to use "die Ausgabe"?

The usage of die Ausgabe strongly depends on the context:

• In Finance: Refers to money being spent. Often used as "hohe Ausgaben" (high expenses) or "unnötige Ausgaben" (unnecessary expenses). The opposite is die Einnahme (income, revenue).
• In Publishing: Denotes a specific publication (e.g., "die erste Ausgabe" - the first edition, "eine Sonderausgabe" - a special issue).
• In Logistics/Administration: Refers to the act of distributing or handing out (e.g., "die Essensausgabe" - the food distribution, "die Ausgabe von Formularen" - the issuing of forms).
• In Technology: Describes what a device or process produces (e.g., "die Datenausgabe" - the data output, "die Sprachausgabe" - the voice output).

Comparison:

• Ausgabe vs. Kosten: Die Kosten (costs) often refer more specifically to the price of goods or services, while die Ausgaben (expenses, spending) can describe the outflow of money more generally.
• Ausgabe vs. Veröffentlichung: Die Veröffentlichung (publication, release) refers to the act of publishing, while die Ausgabe usually means the result (the issue, the edition).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Ausgabe"

1. Article "die":

   Think of things that are often issued or distributed which are feminine in German: die Rechnung (the bill - listing expenses), die Zeitschrift (the magazine - an issue/Ausgabe), or die Kasse (the cash register) from which money is given AUS (out). All feminine!

2. Meanings:

   Imagine you give money OUT (AUS-gabe -> financial expenditure), then you buy the latest issue (Ausgabe) of a magazine with it, and at the counter, the change is issued (Ausgabe). Everything involves something coming 'out' or being 'given out'.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar Words:

• Die Aufgabe: Means "task" or "assignment". Sounds similar but has a completely different meaning!

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den Buchhalter: "Warum sind unsere Ausgaben diesen Monat so exorbitant hoch?"
Sagt der Buchhalter: "Chef, das sind keine Ausgaben, das sind Investitionen in meine Kaffeepausen!" ☕

(Translation: The boss asks the accountant: "Why are our expenses so exorbitantly high this month?"
The accountant replies: "Boss, those aren't expenses, they're investments in my coffee breaks!")

📜 Poem about die Ausgabe

Die Ausgabe, mal groß, mal klein,
Beim Einkauf muss sie leider sein.
Mal für die Miete, mal fürs Brot,
Bringt manchmal uns in Finanznot.

Doch auch als Heft, frisch aus der Presse,
Stillt sie das Leseinteresse.
Am Schalter wird sie ausgehändigt,
Vielfältig ist sie, ungebändigt!

(Translation):
The expense, sometimes big, sometimes small,
When shopping, it must befall.
Sometimes for rent, sometimes for bread,
Sometimes brings financial dread.

But also as an issue, fresh from the press,
It satisfies the reading interest, no less.
At the counter, it's handed out straight,
It's diverse, untamed, and great!

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich koste Geld, wenn ich bezahlt werd' leer.
Ich bin ein Heft, gefüllt mit Wissen sehr.
Ich werd' am Schalter dir gegeben.
Was bin ich wohl in diesem Leben?

(Translation):
I cost money, when paid I make you poor.
I am a booklet, filled with knowledge galore.
I am given to you at the counter's face.
What am I in this time and place?

(Solution: die Ausgabe - the expense / the issue / the distribution)

➕ More about die Ausgabe

Word Formation:

The word Ausgabe is composed of:

• Prefix aus- (expresses movement from inside to outside or an end)
• Verb stem of geben (to give)
• Suffix -e (typical for feminine nouns derived from verbs)

So, it originally describes the act of 'giving out' or 'spending'.

Related Verbs:

• ausgeben: to spend money, to hand out/distribute something, to pretend to be someone
• herausgeben: to publish a book/magazine, to give back change