die  Kündigung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈkʏndɪɡʊŋ/

📜 What does "die Kündigung" mean?

Die Kündigung (noun, feminine) means the termination or notice of cancellation of a contract, especially an Arbeitsvertrag (employment contract) or a Mietvertrag (lease agreement), by one of the parties involved. It's the formal declaration that an ongoing contractual obligation will end at a specific point in time.

Different types exist:

• Ordentliche Kündigung: Ordinary termination, respecting the statutory or contractual Kündigungsfrist (notice period).
• Außerordentliche (fristlose) Kündigung: Extraordinary (without notice) termination, for a significant reason (wichtiger Grund) without a notice period.
• Änderungskündigung: Modification termination, terminating the existing contract while simultaneously offering a new contract with changed conditions.

🚨 Important: In Germany, a Kündigung often must be in writing (Schriftformerfordernis) to be valid, particularly in employment law (§ 623 BGB) and for residential leases (§ 568 BGB).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of "Kündigung" in Detail

The word "Kündigung" is a feminine noun. The article is die. Like many German nouns ending in -ung, it is feminine.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Der Arbeitnehmer reichte seine Kündigung fristgerecht ein.
   (The employee submitted his notice on time.)
2. Die Mieter erhielten eine Kündigung wegen Eigenbedarfs.
   (The tenants received a notice of termination due to the landlord's personal need.)
3. Nach mehreren Abmahnungen erfolgte die fristlose Kündigung.
   (After several warnings, the termination without notice followed.)
4. Die Kündigung des Abonnements muss schriftlich erfolgen.
   (The cancellation of the subscription must be done in writing.)
5. Im Personalbüro werden alle Kündigungen bearbeitet.
   (All notices of termination are processed in the HR office.)

💡 How "Kündigung" is Used

The term die Kündigung is central to German Arbeitsrecht (labor law) and Mietrecht (tenancy law), but also applies to other continuous contracts like subscriptions or memberships.

• In working life: Here, one speaks of the Kündigung des Arbeitsverhältnisses (termination of the employment relationship). It can be issued by the Arbeitgeber (employer) (for operational, conduct-related, or person-related reasons) or by the Arbeitnehmer (employee). Important aspects are the Kündigungsfrist (notice period) and Kündigungsschutz (protection against dismissal).
• In tenancy law: The Kündigung des Mietvertrags (termination of the lease agreement) ends the tenancy. Here too, there are notice periods and special protections for tenants of residential properties. A common form is the Kündigung wegen Eigenbedarfs (termination due to the landlord's personal need).
• Other contracts: You can also cancel mobile phone contracts, insurance policies, newspaper subscriptions, or club memberships. This is often referred to as Kündigung des Vertrags (termination of the contract) or der Mitgliedschaft (of the membership).

⚠️ It's important to distinguish Kündigung from Aufhebung (cancellation/rescission, often mutual) or Rücktritt (withdrawal, usually possible early in a contract due to non-performance or defects). An Aufhebungsvereinbarung is a mutual agreement to end a contract.

Related verbs: kündigen (to terminate, to give notice, to resign), gekündigt werden (to be given notice, to be fired/dismissed).

🧠 Mnemonics for Kündigung

Article Mnemonic: Words ending in "-ung" in German are almost always feminine (die). Think of the ending -> die Kündigung. Like die Rechnung (the bill), die Meinung (the opinion), die Hoffnung (the hope).

Meaning Mnemonic: A Kündigung often feels like being kicked out or 'canned'. Imagine someone being given notice (Kündigung) and having to pack their things in a can - 'can'-dig-ung. Or: It sounds a bit like 'Candid-gone' - someone is candidly told they are gone (terminated).

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Terms

• Abmahnung: A formal warning (often in employment law) which can precede a Kündigung, but isn't the termination itself.
• Freistellung: Release from duties; the employee no longer has to work, but the employment relationship continues (often until the end of the notice period).

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Chef den neuen Mitarbeiter: "Was war Ihr letzter Job?"
Antwortet der Mitarbeiter: "Akrobat." Chef: "Interessant, was haben Sie da gemacht?" Mitarbeiter: "Ich habe hauptsächlich Leute gefeuert, aber sie nannten es 'elegante Kündigung durch die Luft'."

Translation:

The boss asks the new employee: "What was your last job?"
The employee replies: "Acrobat." Boss: "Interesting, what did you do there?" Employee: "I mostly fired people, but they called it 'elegant termination through the air'."

✍️ Poem about Kündigung

Ein Brief kommt an, ganz schlicht und weiß,
bringt eine Nachricht, kalt wie Eis.
Ein Wort nur schwer, ein harter Schlag,
die Kündigung beendet Tag für Tag.
Was gestern fest, ist heut' entzwei,
ein Kapitel schließt, ein Neubeginn sei frei.
Doch Mut gefasst, den Blick nach vorn,
wird neuer Grund gelegt, ein neuer Dorn?Nein, eine Chance, frisch und klar,nach jeder Kündigung ist Zukunft da.

Translation:

A letter arrives, quite plain and white,
bringing news as cold as ice.
A heavy word, a harsh blow struck,
the termination ends each day's luck.
What once was firm, is now undone,
a chapter closes, new start's begun.
But courage found, look straight ahead,
new ground be laid, new thorns instead?
No, a chance, both fresh and clear,
after every notice, future's here.

🤔 Little Riddle

Ich beende, was begann,
ob Arbeit, Miete oder Plan.
Oft brauch' ich Schrift und eine Frist,
damit mein Ende gültig ist.
Mal bin ich fristlos, mal mit Zeit,
bereite manchmal Bitterkeit.

Was bin ich?

Translation:

I end what has begun,
be it work, rent, or a plan.
Often I need writing and a deadline set,
so that my ending is valid, you bet.
Sometimes I'm immediate, sometimes with delay,
sometimes I bring bitterness your way.

What am I?

➕ Other Information

Word Composition:

The word "Kündigung" derives from the verb "kündigen". "Kündigen" in turn comes from "kund tun" or "kundmachen", which means "to make known" or "to announce". The suffix "-ung" nominalizes the verb, denoting the process or result of the action.

Legal Aspects:

Kündigungsrecht (termination law) is heavily regulated in Germany, especially in employment law by the Kündigungsschutzgesetz (KSchG - Protection Against Dismissal Act) and in tenancy law by the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB - Civil Code). There are many formal requirements and notice periods to observe.

Cultural Aspects:

A Kündigung, especially losing one's job, is often perceived in Germany as a very significant event and can be associated with social insecurity. Protection against dismissal (Kündigungsschutz) is therefore highly valued.