die  Räumung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁɔɪ̯mʊŋ/

🧹 What does 'die Räumung' actually mean?

Die Räumung is a feminine noun (*feminines Substantiv*) that generally refers to the *process of making something empty or clear*. It has several specific meanings:

• Clearing/Emptying: This is the most general meaning. It refers to removing objects or people from a specific area, e.g., clearing out an apartment when moving (*der Umzug*) or clearing a space.
  Example: Die Räumung des Kellers dauerte einen ganzen Tag. (The clearing of the basement took a whole day.)
• Eviction (*Zwangsräumung*): A specific, often legal, meaning. This involves the forced removal, ordered by authorities or courts, of people (and their property) from an apartment or property, usually due to rent arrears (*Mietrückstände*) or breach of contract.
  Example: Dem Mieter droht die Zwangsräumung. (The tenant faces eviction.)
• Evacuation: In contexts of safety and emergencies, *die Räumung* refers to the evacuation of people from an endangered area.
  Example: Die Polizei ordnete die sofortige Räumung des Gebäudes wegen einer Bombendrohung an. (The police ordered the immediate evacuation of the building due to a bomb threat.)

🚨 *Pay attention to the context to understand the exact meaning of* **die Räumung**.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar Check: Declension of 'die Räumung'

The noun "Räumung" is feminine (*feminin*). Here are the declension tables:

Example Sentences

1. Die Räumung des Festivalgeländes verlief ohne Zwischenfälle.
   (The clearing of the festival grounds went without incidents.)
2. Wegen der bevorstehenden Räumung packten sie ihre Sachen.
   (Because of the impending clearance/eviction, they packed their things.)
3. Das Gericht stimmte der Räumung der Wohnung zu.
   (The court approved the eviction from the apartment.)
4. Die Feuerwehr führte mehrere Räumungen in der Gefahrenzone durch.
   (The fire department carried out several evacuations in the danger zone.)

🗣️ When to use 'Räumung'? Typical Contexts

The word die Räumung is used in various situations:

• Moving (*Umzug*): When leaving an apartment or house, one often speaks of the *Räumung* of the old place. ("Die Wohnungsräumung muss bis Ende des Monats abgeschlossen sein." - *"The clearing of the apartment must be completed by the end of the month."*)
• Law & Authorities (*Recht & Behörden*): In the context of enforcement actions by courts or police (e.g., *Zwangsräumung* - forced eviction, *Räumung* of a squatted house).
• Safety & Emergencies (*Sicherheit & Notfälle*): During evacuations due to fire, bomb disposals, or other dangers. ("Die *Räumung* des Bahnhofs erfolgte schnell." - *"The evacuation of the train station happened quickly."*)
• Commerce (*Handel*): The term *Räumungsverkauf* denotes a clearance sale, often due to business closure or renovation, where goods are to be sold quickly (i.e., 'cleared from the warehouse').

The word derives directly from the verb *räumen* (*to clear, to vacate, to empty*).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Räumung'

Tip for the Article:

*Like many nouns derived from verbs ending in* -ung, 'Räumung' is feminine. *Remember:* The endung makes it die Räumung.

Tip for the Meaning:

*Imagine having to clear your* **room** *completely, a big 'rooming-out' action. That's* **die Räumung**. *Everything has to go, leaving the space empty.*

↔️ Similar & Opposite: Synonyms and Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but different terms:

• Räumungsverkauf: *A clearance sale, not the physical act of clearing.*
• Aufräumen: *Refers more to tidying up, not necessarily emptying.*

😂 A little joke about Räumung

German: Warum hat der Mieter beim Räumungsverkauf nichts gekauft? Er dachte, er muss sowieso bald alles wieder räumen!

English Translation: Why didn't the tenant buy anything at the clearance sale? He thought he'd have to clear everything out again soon anyway!

📜 A Poem about Räumung

German:
Die Kisten stehen hoch und breit,
Es ist zur Räumung nun die Zeit.
Was einst belebt, wird nun ganz leer,
Ein Abschied fällt oft ziemlich schwer.

Regale blank, die Wand so kahl,
Vorbei die Zeit, die Wahl, die Qual.
Die Tür fällt zu, ein letzter Blick,
Die Räumung lässt nichts mehr zurück.

English Translation:
The boxes stand up tall and wide,
It's time for clearing, nowhere to hide.
What once was lively, now turns bare,
A farewell often hard to bear.

Shelves are empty, walls so plain,
Gone the time, the choice, the pain.
The door slams shut, a final gaze,
The clearing leaves behind no trace.

❓ A Little Riddle

German:
Ich mache Platz, mal sanft, mal hart,
Bin oft das Ende, selten Start.
Mal freiwillig, mal mit Gericht,
Ich sorge für ein leeres Gesicht... des Raumes.

Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I make space, sometimes gently, sometimes hard,
I'm often the end, seldom the start.
Sometimes voluntary, sometimes by court decree,
I ensure an empty face... of the room, you see.

What am I?

Solution: die Räumung (the clearing/eviction/evacuation)

🧩 Word Building & More

Word Composition (*Wortzusammensetzung*):

The word "Räumung" is a noun derived from the verb räumen. The suffix -ung is used to form nouns from verbs, typically denoting the process or result of the action.

• räumen (*verb: to clear, empty, vacate*) + -ung (*suffix for nominalization*) = die Räumung (*the clearing, eviction, evacuation*)

Common Compounds:

• Räumungsverkauf: *A clearance sale.*
• Zwangsräumung: *A forced eviction.*