die  Ausstrahlung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌʃtraːlʊŋ/

✨ What does "die Ausstrahlung" mean?

The word die Ausstrahlung is a feminine noun with several meanings:

• Personal presence / Charisma: The way a person affects others; their presence, charisma, or aura.

  Example: Sie hat eine positive Ausstrahlung. (She has a positive aura/presence.)

• Broadcast (Radio/TV): The transmission of a program via radio or television.

  Example: Die Ausstrahlung des Films beginnt um 20:15 Uhr. (The broadcast of the movie starts at 8:15 PM.)

• Physical radiation / Emission: The emission of waves or particles (e.g., heat, light, radioactivity). This meaning is more technical.

  Example: die Ausstrahlung von Wärme durch einen Heizkörper. (the emission/radiation of heat from a radiator.)

🚨 Although all meanings relate to 'sending out' or 'emitting', the context is crucial for understanding which meaning is intended.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar in Detail: die Ausstrahlung

"Ausstrahlung" is a feminine noun. The article is always die.

Example Sentences

1. (Charisma) Seine ruhige Ausstrahlung wirkte beruhigend auf die Gruppe.
   His calm presence/aura had a calming effect on the group.
2. (Broadcast) Wegen technischer Probleme wurde die Ausstrahlung der Nachrichten verschoben.
   Due to technical problems, the broadcast of the news was postponed.
3. (Physics) Die Ausstrahlung von Sonnenlicht ist für das Leben auf der Erde essenziell.
   The emission/radiation of sunlight is essential for life on Earth.
4. (Plural - mostly for broadcasts) Es gab gestern Abend mehrere interessante Ausstrahlungen im Fernsehen.
   There were several interesting broadcasts on TV last night.

💡 Usage in Context

The use of die Ausstrahlung heavily depends on the context:

• Everyday life (Charisma): When talking about people, "Ausstrahlung" almost always refers to personal impact. You might hear about positive, negative, starke (strong), warme (warm), kühle (cool) Ausstrahlung.
• Media (Broadcast): In the context of radio and TV, "Ausstrahlung" means the transmission or the broadcast itself. Here, it's synonymous with Sendung (broadcast/program) or Übertragung (transmission).
• Science/Technology (Emission): In physics or technology, the term is used for the emission of energy or particles (Wärmeausstrahlung - heat radiation, Lichtausstrahlung - light emission). It's more specific than Strahlung (radiation), which can also refer to received radiation.

Risk of Confusion?

• Charisma: Similar, but "Charisma" often emphasizes a special, almost magical appeal, whereas "Ausstrahlung" describes the general effect or presence more broadly.
• Sendung: Often interchangeable for TV/radio, but "Ausstrahlung" emphasizes the act of broadcasting more.
• Strahlung: "Strahlung" (radiation) is the more general term in physics. "Ausstrahlung" specifically refers to the emission of radiation.

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Ausstrahlung"

Article Mnemonic (die):

Think of feminine nouns ending in "-ung" in German – they are almost always die. Imagine a TV broadcasting (ends in -ung sound) signal. It requires die power. Or picture a woman (die Frau) with a captivating aura – die Ausstrahlung.

Meaning Mnemonic (Charisma, Broadcast, Emission):

Think of something radiating 'out' (aus-). A person's charisma radiates out. A TV signal is broadcast out. Heat is emitted or radiates out. It's all about outward projection.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words:

• Strahlung: Refers generally to radiation (waves/particles), not just the act of emitting.
• Eindruck (impression): The effect on the receiver, not the quality of the sender.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Fernsehtechniker so eine schlechte Ausstrahlung?
Weil er immer nur den Empfang prüft, nie die Sendung!

--- Translation ---

Why does the TV technician have such bad charisma/presence ("Ausstrahlung")?
Because he only ever checks the reception ("Empfang"), never the broadcast ("Sendung" / "Ausstrahlung")!

✍️ Poem about Ausstrahlung

Ein Lächeln, ein Blick, ganz ohne Zwang,
man spürt sie sofort, den ganzen Tag lang.
Mal warm wie die Sonne, mal kühl wie der Mond,
die Ausstrahlung ist's, die in uns wohnt.

Im Radio erklingt's, im TV zu seh'n,
die Ausstrahlung lässt Bilder und Töne entsteh'n.
Von Antennen gesandt, durch Wellen getragen,
erreicht sie uns alle an hörbaren Tagen.

--- Translation ---

A smile, a glance, completely without force,
you feel it immediately, all day long, of course.
Sometimes warm like the sun, sometimes cool like the moon,
it's the aura/presence (Ausstrahlung) that lives within us soon.

On the radio it sounds, on TV to be seen,
the broadcast (Ausstrahlung) lets images and sounds convene.
Sent from antennas, carried by waves,
it reaches us all on audible days.

🧩 Riddle

Ich kann Herzen erwärmen, ohne Feuer zu sein.
Ich kann über Antennen reisen, mal groß und mal klein.
Manchmal bin ich unsichtbar, doch meine Wirkung ist klar.
Was bin ich, mal persönlich, mal technisch, wunderbar?

--- Translation ---

I can warm hearts without being fire.
I can travel via antennas, sometimes big, sometimes higher.
Sometimes I am invisible, yet my effect is clear.
What am I, sometimes personal, sometimes technical, held dear?

Solution: die Ausstrahlung

🤓 Additional Information

Word Formation:

The word Ausstrahlung is composed of:

• aus- (prefix, meaning 'out', 'from the inside out')
• Strahlung (the noun form of 'strahlen' - to radiate, beam, shine)

The suffix -ung turns the verb 'ausstrahlen' (to radiate/emit/broadcast) into a feminine noun.

Cultural Note:

In German culture, considerable importance can be placed on personal 'Ausstrahlung', especially in professional and social contexts. A 'gute Ausstrahlung' (good presence/aura) is often associated with competence and likeability.