die  Auszahlung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaʊsˌtsaːlʊŋ/

💰 What does "die Auszahlung" mean?

Die Auszahlung (feminine noun, plural: die Auszahlungen) refers to the act of paying out money, either by handing it over or transferring it to someone's account. It can mean the process of disbursement or the amount of money paid out itself.

Typical contexts include:

• The Auszahlung of salaries or wages (Gehälter/Löhne) 💼
• The Auszahlung of a loan (Kredit/Darlehen) 🏦
• The Auszahlung of winnings (Gewinne, e.g., lottery, casino) 🎰
• The Auszahlung of insurance benefits or social benefits (Versicherungsleistungen/Sozialleistungen) 📄

🚨 Good to know: Almost all German nouns ending in -ung are feminine (die). This makes it easy to remember the article for die Auszahlung.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar of "die Auszahlung" in Detail

The noun "Auszahlung" is feminine. Here are the declension tables for singular and plural.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Die Auszahlung meines Gehalts erfolgt immer am Monatsende.
   (The payout of my salary always happens at the end of the month.)
2. Der Kreditnehmer wartet auf die Auszahlung des Darlehens.
   (The borrower is waiting for the disbursement of the loan.)
3. Nach Prüfung des Antrags genehmigte die Versicherung die Auszahlung.
   (After reviewing the application, the insurance company approved the payout.)
4. Wir haben mehrere Auszahlungen vom Konto getätigt.
   (We made several payments/withdrawals from the account.)
5. Die Höhe der Auszahlung war überraschend.
   (The amount of the payout was surprising.)

💡 How to use "Auszahlung"?

"Auszahlung" is primarily used in financial and administrative contexts. It describes the specific act of money flowing from the payer to the recipient.

• Typical verbs: beantragen (to apply for), veranlassen (to arrange), erhalten (to receive), tätigen/vornehmen (to make/carry out), stoppen (to stop) (eine Auszahlung beantragen, die Auszahlung veranlassen etc.)
• Contexts: Banking (Bankwesen), accounting (Buchhaltung), human resources (Personalwesen), social benefits (Sozialleistungen), gambling (Glücksspiel).
• Distinction from similar terms:
  • Zahlung (payment): More general term, can also mean payment received (Einzahlung).
  • Überweisung (transfer): Specific method of cashless payment.
  • Abhebung (withdrawal): Taking money from one's own account (from the bank's perspective, this is an Auszahlung to the customer).
  • Ausschüttung (distribution/payout): Often used for profit distributions from companies to shareholders (dividends).

One speaks of the Auszahlung of an amount when money flows from an institution (bank, employer, insurance, government) to a person or another company.

🧠 Mnemonics for Auszahlung

Article Mnemonic: Nouns ending in -ung usually signal a process or result and are almost always feminine in German. Think of *die Rechnung* (the bill/invoice), *die Buchung* (the booking), *die Zahlung* (the payment)... and *die Auszahlung*.

Meaning Mnemonic: The money goes 'aus' (out) and is 'gezahlt' (paid). That's the Auszahlung – the *paying out*.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar, but different words:

• Die Anzahlung: Down payment / Deposit (partial payment in advance).
• Die Zuzahlung: Co-payment / Additional payment (an extra amount one has to pay, e.g., for medication).

😂 A Little Joke

Chef: "Haben Sie schon Ihre erste Auszahlung bekommen?"
Mitarbeiter: "Nein, nur mein erstes Gehalt."

(Boss: "Have you received your first payout yet?"
Employee: "No, just my first salary.")
(Note: While 'Gehalt' is a type of 'Auszahlung', the joke plays on the slightly more formal/general term 'Auszahlung' versus the specific 'Gehalt'.)

📜 Poem about the Payout

Das Konto schaut schon etwas leer,
die nächste Auszahlung muss her.
Ob Lohn, ob Rente, ob Gewinn,
ein Geldfluss hat stets seinen Sinn.
Piept das Handy, Mail ist da,
die Auszahlung – Hurra!

(The account looks a bit empty,
the next payout must come quickly.
Be it wage, pension, or winnings' gain,
a cash flow always has its aim.
The phone beeps, mail has arrived,
the payout – Hooray!)

❓ Riddle

Ich komme oft am Monatsende,
beende manche klamme Wende.
Von Bank, Chef oder Amt geschickt,
werd' ich aufs Konto meist geblickt.

Was bin ich? (Lösung: die Auszahlung)

(I often come at the month's end,
putting broke times to an end.
Sent by bank, boss, or state decree,
onto the account, most look for me.

What am I?
Answer: die Auszahlung / the payout)

🧩 Other Details

Word Composition:

The word "Auszahlung" is a noun derived from the verb "auszahlen" (to pay out). It is composed of:

• Prefix aus-: Indicates movement from inside to outside (money going out).
• Stem verb zahlen: Means to pay.
• Suffix -ung: Forms a noun from the verb, denoting the process or result of the action. As mentioned, nouns ending in -ung are almost always feminine (die).