German word

auskommen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈaʊ̯sˌkɔmən/

Meaning

  • verbget by

Example

Ich komme mit wenig Geld aus.

I get by on little money.

Illustration for auskommen (get by)

More examples

Ohne Ersparnisse kann sie nicht lange auskommen.

Without savings, she cannot get by for long.

Core concept

A person making life work with limited resources while sharing space peacefully with another person.

Common phrases

  • mit wenig Geld auskommen

    get by on little money

  • mit dem Gehalt auskommen

    get by on a salary

  • ohne Ersparnisse auskommen

    get by without savings

Similar words

zurechtkommen: Find ways to overcome everyday difficulties.
klarkommen: Adjust to circumstances or people and get along without conflict.
verstehen: Be mutually understood and keep the relationship harmonious.

Definition in German

Trennbares Verb; mit Dativ gebraucht, heißt es, mit begrenzten Mitteln zurechtzukommen oder mit einer Person ohne Konflikt auszukommen.

Word origin

Auskommen combines the separable prefix aus- with kommen, and its modern senses cover managing with available means and living amicably with others.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, auskommen splits as in 'Ich komme mit wenig Geld aus'; the phrase 'mit jemandem auskommen' takes the dative.

Other meanings

  • get alongverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Auskommenlivelihoodnoun
  • auskömmlichsufficientadjective

Word lists with this word