Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Schulabbrecher | masculine | |
| Abbrecher | /ˈapˌbʁɛçɐ/ | masculine |
| Uni-Abbrecher | masculine | |
| Uni-Abbrecherin | feminine | |
| Schulabbrecherin | feminine | |
| Studienabbrecher | masculine | |
| Studienabbrecherin | feminine |
In German, the term for a dropout depends on the level of education being left. You can use the root Abbrecher in compound nouns, such as Abbrecherquote to describe a dropout rate. While Schulabbrecher refers to someone leaving school, Studienabbrecher is used specifically for those leaving higher education or a university degree program.
What does it mean word for word?
The word Abbrecher is derived from the verb abbrechen, which means to break off or interrupt a process.
Which one should you use?
Use Schulabbrecher for someone who leaves school, such as primary or secondary education. Use Studienabbrecher specifically for someone who leaves a university degree program. Uni-Abbrecher is another way to refer to a university dropout.
How does it change in a sentence?
To denote a female dropout, the suffix -in is added to the masculine form, resulting in words like Schulabbrecherin or Studienabbrecherin.
Did you know?
- The root verb abbrechen used in these terms is the same verb used when one 'breaks off' a piece of chocolate or a biscuit.
- The word abbrechen is used in computer terminology to 'cancel' or 'abort' a process, such as clicking 'Cancel' on a pop-up window.
- German uses the word Abbruch to describe a 'demolition' when a building is torn down, sharing the same root as Abbrecher.
Examples in context
- Tom ist Schulabbrecher.Tom is a high school dropout.This sentence shows how to use Schulabbrecher to identify someone.Tatoeba #1941146 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #1025170 by CK
- Doch obschon es dem Bezirk gelungen ist, die Schulabbrecherquote zu senken, so wurde noch nicht erreicht, daß mehr Mädchen eingeschult werden.But while the county has had success in reducing the dropout rate, it has not succeeded in getting more girls to enrol in school in the first place.This sentence demonstrates the use of Schulabbrecher within the compound noun Schulabbrecherquote (dropout rate).Tatoeba #13878281 by Waldelfe, translation #12138094 by Cangarejo
- Er ist ein Schulabbrecher.He is a dropout.
- Sie ist eine Studienabbrecherin.She is a university dropout.
- Er hat die Schule ohne Abschluss verlassen.He left school without a diploma.
- Sie hat ihr Studium vorzeitig abgebrochen.She prematurely ended her studies.
- Er gilt in der Stadt als Schulabbrecher.He is considered a school dropout in the city.
Example conversation
Julian and Laura are talking about a former classmate.
- JulianWeißt du, was aus Marc geworden ist?Do you know what happened to Marc?
- LauraEr ist leider ein Schulabbrecher geworden.Unfortunately, he became a school dropout.
- JulianDas ist wirklich schade um ihn.That is really a pity for him.
- LauraJa, aber er arbeitet jetzt in einer Werkstatt.Yes, but he works in a workshop now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “dropout” translations and entries Schulabbrecher, Abbrecher, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Abbrecher, Schulabbrecher, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
