German Conversation · Level 117
45 words
German word
Abbruch
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈapbʁʊx/
Meaning
- masculine nouncancellation
Example
Der Abbruch des Spiels überraschte alle.
The game's cancellation surprised everyone.
More examples
Der Abbruch eines Vertrags führte zu finanziellen Verlusten.
The cancellation of a contract resulted in financial losses.
Core concept
A process breaks off before its endpoint, leaving an unfinished task or a partly dismantled structure.
Common phrases
Abbruch der Bauarbeiten
cessation of construction work
Abbruch einer Beziehung
ending of a relationship
Abbruch eines Vertrags
cancellation of a contract
Similar words
Absage: Notice that a planned event or invitation will not take place.
Verschiebung: Moving a scheduled date or plan to a later time.
Unterbrechung: A temporary stop in work or conversation, followed by resumption.
Ende: The point at which a process or activity comes to an end.
Definition in German
Das vorzeitige Beenden eines Plans, Vorgangs oder einer Tätigkeit; etwas wird vor dem Abschluss abgebrochen.
Word origin
Abbruch is formed from the verb abbrechen, with ab- meaning off or away and brechen meaning break; the literal idea extends to stopping work and demolishing.
Usage tips
- Abbruch usually means ending something that has already begun, whereas Absage commonly cancels an event before it starts; the noun is masculine: der Abbruch.
Other meanings
- interruptionnoun
- demolitionnoun
Opposites
- Vollendungcompletionnoun
- Fortbestandcontinued existencenoun
Related words
- abbrechencancelverb
- Abbruchklauselcancellation clausenoun
- Abbruchkostendemolition expensesnoun