die  Mitnahme

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈmɪtˌnaːmə/

🎒 What does 'die Mitnahme' mean?

The noun die Mitnahme means the act of taking something or someone along. It is derived from the verb mitnehmen (to take along).

Main meanings:

• Takeaway food: Buying prepared food at a restaurant or snack bar to eat elsewhere. Example: Die Mitnahme von Speisen ist hier günstiger. (Taking food away is cheaper here.) This is often called 'Take-away' or 'Essen zum Mitnehmen'.
• Taking items: The act or permission to take purchased or provided items with you. Example: Die Mitnahme von Prospekten ist erwünscht. (Taking brochures is welcome.)
• Taking people: Transporting people in one's own vehicle (giving someone a lift). Example: Die Mitnahme von Anhaltern ist hier nicht erlaubt. (Picking up hitchhikers is not allowed here.)

The word only uses the feminine article 'die'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📚 Grammar Corner: Declining 'die Mitnahme'

Die Mitnahme is a feminine noun. It is usually only used in the singular because it describes a process or action. A plural form ('die Mitnahmen') is grammatically possible but very rare, referring to multiple individual acts of taking something along.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural - rare

Example Sentences

1. Wir bestellen Pizza zur Mitnahme. (We are ordering pizza for takeaway. - Purpose)
2. Die Mitnahme von Hunden ist im Geschäft nicht gestattet. (Taking dogs into the shop is not permitted. - Nominative)
3. Wegen der unerlaubten Mitnahme der Ware wurde er angezeigt. (He was reported because of the unauthorized taking of the goods. - Genitive)
4. Er stimmte der Mitnahme des Pakets zu. (He agreed to the taking of the package. - Dative)

💡 How to Use 'die Mitnahme' Correctly

Contexts:

• Gastronomy / Food Service: Very common in the context of 'Essen zum Mitnehmen' (food to go) or 'Getränke zur Mitnahme' (drinks to go). Here, it's a synonym for 'takeaway' or 'Außer-Haus-Verkauf' (off-premises sales). Example sign: "Alles auch zur Mitnahme!" (Everything also available for takeaway!)
• Retail / Shopping: Refers to taking purchased goods with you immediately, as opposed to having them delivered. Example: "Möbel zur sofortigen Mitnahme." (Furniture for immediate takeaway.)
• Transport / Traffic: Refers to taking people along (e.g., in a carpool or Mitfahrgelegenheit) or items (e.g., Fahrradmitnahme - taking a bicycle on a train). Example: "Die Mitnahme von Fahrrädern ist nur außerhalb der Stoßzeiten erlaubt." (Taking bicycles is only allowed outside peak hours.)
• Rules / Prohibitions: Often seen on signs or in regulations. Example: "Mitnahme von Speisen und Getränken verboten." (Bringing food and drinks is prohibited.)

Distinction from similar words:

• Abholung (pickup): Emphasizes fetching something that was ordered or reserved. Mitnahme can be more spontaneous.
• Transport (transport): A more general term for moving goods or people. Mitnahme often implies taking something along incidentally or in addition to a primary activity (like one's own journey).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Mitnahme'

Article Mnemonic (die): Think of "die" in "takeaway is die-licious" to remember the feminine article. Or: She (die Frau) arranges die Mitnahme.

Meaning Mnemonic: Mit-nahme sounds like "take it with you near" (like near home). It's the opposite of leaving it there.

🔄 Similar but Different: Synonyms & Antonyms

Potentially Confusing Words:

• Annahme: Means acceptance or assumption.
• Einnahme: Refers to income/revenue or taking medicine.

😂 A Little Joke about Mitnahme

Kellner: "Zum Hieressen oder zur Mitnahme?"
Gast: "Ich hätte gerne eine Mitnahme Pommes und eine Mitnahme von Ihnen!"
Kellner: "Sehr schmeichelhaft, aber ich stehe nicht auf der Karte!"

Translation:
Waiter: "For here or to go (zur Mitnahme)?"
Customer: "I'd like one portion of fries to go and one 'you' to go (eine Mitnahme von Ihnen)!"
Waiter: "Very flattering, but I'm not on the menu!"

✒️ Poem about Mitnahme

Der Hunger ruft, die Zeit ist knapp,
Bestellt wird schnell, zack, zack, zack.
Nicht hier im Sitzen, nein, im Lauf,
Zur Mitnahme nehm ich's gern in Kauf.
Die Tüte raschelt, duftet fein,
So kann das Abendessen sein.

Translation:
Hunger calls, time is tight,
Ordered quickly, snap, snap, snap.
Not sitting here, no, on the run,
For takeaway, I'll gladly get it done.
The bag rustles, smells so fine,
This way, dinner can be mine.

❓ Riddle: What am I?

Ich bin kein Geschenk, doch du nimmst mich gern mit.
Ich spare dir Zeit, Schritt für Schritt.
Ob Essen, ob Ware, ob Freund auf der Fahrt,
Ich bin die Handlung ganz eigner Art.

Lösung/Solution: die Mitnahme

Translation:
I'm not a gift, but you gladly take me along.
I save you time, step by step, all day long.
Whether food, or goods, or a friend on the ride,
I am the action of a special kind.

What am I?
Answer: the act of taking something along (die Mitnahme)

🧩 Word Origins & More

Word Composition:

The word 'Mitnahme' is a nominalization (making a noun) of the verb mitnehmen (to take along). It's composed of:

• Prefix mit-: Indicates doing something together with or taking something along.
• Stem of the verb nehmen: Means to take, grasp, accept.
• Suffix -e (implicit through nominalization): Forms the feminine noun.

It belongs to the word family of 'nehmen' (e.g., Annahme - acceptance/assumption, Ausnahme - exception, Entnahme - withdrawal/removal, Einnahme - intake/revenue).