die  Rückgabe

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈʁʏkˌɡaːbə/

🎁 What does 'die Rückgabe' mean?

Die Rückgabe (noun, feminine) describes the act of giving something back that you received or borrowed, returning it to the original owner or place. It can refer to various contexts:

• Merchandise return/refund: Taking purchased goods back to a store, often in exchange for money or store credit. (die Warenrückgabe)
• Borrowed items: Returning items you borrowed, like books to a library (die Buchrückgabe) or tools.
• Deposit return (Pfand): Returning empty bottles or cans (Leergut) to get the deposit (Pfand) back. (die Pfandrückgabe)
• Sports: In ball sports (e.g., football, tennis), passing the ball back to a teammate or over the net. (der Rückpass, der Return - Note: Return is often used in tennis, but Rückgabe can also describe the action).

It's a noun derived from the verb zurückgeben (to give back, to return).

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar Spotlight: Die Rückgabe

The word Rückgabe is a feminine noun. Its article is die.

Declension

Example Sentences

1. Die Rückgabe der Ware ist innerhalb von 14 Tagen möglich.
   (The return of the goods is possible within 14 days.)
2. Bitte denken Sie an die Rückgabe der Bibliotheksbücher bis Freitag.
   (Please remember the return of the library books by Friday.)
3. Die Rückgabe des Pfandes erfolgt am Automaten.
   (The return of the deposit takes place at the machine.)
4. Seine präzise Rückgabe brachte den Punkt im Tennisspiel.
   (His precise return won the point in the tennis match.)

💡 How to use 'Rückgabe'

The term Rückgabe is very common in everyday life, especially in these situations:

• Shopping: When you want to exchange or return something (Ich möchte die Rückgabe dieses Pullovers veranlassen. - I would like to arrange the return of this sweater.). You might also hear Umtausch (exchange, if you get something else) or Reklamation (complaint, if the item is faulty).
• Rentals/Library: When bringing back borrowed media or items (Die Rückgabe der Bücher erfolgt am Schalter. - The return of the books is done at the counter.).
• Deposit System (Pfand): When returning deposit bottles or cans (Die Rückgabe von Leergut ist hier möglich. - The return of empties is possible here.).
• Forms/Administration: When documents or forms need to be submitted (Frist für die Rückgabe der Steuererklärung ist der 31. Juli. - Deadline for the submission/return of the tax declaration is July 31st.).
• Sports: Describing a play (Eine schnelle Rückgabe zum Torwart. - A quick return/pass back to the goalkeeper.).

Unlike Abgabe (handing in, e.g., homework) or Ausgabe (handing out, e.g., food), Rückgabe always implies that something is going back to its origin or previous owner.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Rückgabe'

Article Mnemonic: Many German nouns ending in -e that describe an action or state (often derived from verbs) are feminine (die). Think of the 'Gabe' (gift/thing given) coming 'Rück' (back) – it requires die Rückgabe.

Meaning Mnemonic: Break down the word: Rück (like 'back') + Gabe (something given, a gift). So, a Rückgabe is literally a back-given thing or the act of giving back.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words

⚠️ Caution: Abgabe isn't always a synonym. You 'hand in' (abgeben) homework, you don't 'return' it in the sense of Rückgabe. Rückgabe usually implies you possessed or received it beforehand.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum ist die Rückgabe von Komplimenten so schwierig?

(Why is the return of compliments so difficult?)

Weil man sie meistens behalten möchte! 😉

(Because you usually want to keep them!) 😉

📜 Poem about 'Rückgabe'

Das Buch gelesen, die Zeit verrinnt,
(The book read, time slips away,)
Die Frist nun mahnt, geschwind, geschwind.
(The deadline now warns, quickly, quickly.)
Zur Bücherei, ein kurzer Gang,
(To the library, a short walk,)
Die Rückgabe, kein Zwang.
(The return, no compulsion.)
Ein Stempel drauf, es ist vollbracht,
(A stamp on it, it is done,)
Ein neues Buch wird mitgebracht.
(A new book is brought along.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin ein Akt, kein fester Stand,
(I am an act, not a fixed state,)
Bringt Dinge oft zurück zur Hand.
(Often brings things back to hand.)
Im Laden, Amt, bei Spiel und Leih'n,
(In the shop, office, in games and loans,)
Bin ich das Ende – oder schein'?
(Am I the end – or just seem so?)

Was bin ich? / What am I?

Lösung / Solution: die Rückgabe

🧩 Word Building & More

Word Composition:

Die Rückgabe is a compound noun (Kompositum):

• rück- : Prefixoid, derived from zurück (back), indicating direction.
• Gabe : Noun, meaning something given or the act of giving.

Together, they create the meaning of giving back or the thing returned.

Interesting Note: The plural die Rückgaben is used less frequently than the singular, often when referring to multiple individual instances of returning something (e.g., Die Rückgaben defekter Geräte häufen sich. - The returns of defective devices are increasing.).