Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Abonnement | [abɔnəˈmɑ̃ː] (narrow) [abɔnˈmɑ̃ː] (Austria, narrow) |
neuter |
| Bezug | /bəˈtsuːk/ (standard) /bəˈtsux/ |
masculine |
| Subskription | feminine | |
| Zugang | /ˈt͡suːɡaŋ/ | masculine |
German uses different words for 'subscription' depending on the context of accessing a resource. While Abonnement is the standard term for services like magazines, streaming or software, other terms exist for specific administrative or technical situations. To cancel a subscription, the standard verb is kündigen.
Which one should you use?
Abonnement is the standard and most common term for general services like streaming or software. Bezug is a more formal or administrative term often used to describe the receipt or the act of receiving a subscription, such as a newspaper delivery. Subskription is a technical term used in specialized fields, such as finance for subscribing to shares or in certain software contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
Abonnement is a neuter noun. Its plural form is Abonnements. Bezug and Zugang are masculine nouns, and Subskription is a feminine noun.
What mistakes should you avoid?
When writing Abonnement, be careful not to forget the double 'n', as English speakers often miss this part of the German spelling.
Did you know?
- In casual conversation, Germans rarely say the full word Abonnement and instead use the shortened version Abo.
- When you want to end a service, you use the verb kündigen. While this sounds harsh, it is the standard, polite way to cancel a contract, a subscription, or even a job.
- The term Abonnement is actually a direct 'loanword' from French. It entered the German language without being modified to fit German phonetic rules, which is why it looks so similar to its French original.
Examples in context
- Ich möchte mein Abonnement beenden.I want to cancel my subscription.This sentence is useful for expressing a desire to end an Abonnement.Tatoeba #3357633 by al_ex_an_der, translation #12037642 by sundown
- Hiermit kündige ich mein Abonnement des Tageblatts fristgerecht zum nächstmöglichen Termin.I hereby cancel my subscription to the newspaper, within the deadline, effective immediately.This sentence is useful for demonstrating how to formally cancel an Abonnement within a deadline.Tatoeba #1592951 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #2725625 by AlanF_US
- Ich muss mein Abonnement kündigen.I need to cancel my subscription.This sentence is useful for stating a necessity to cancel an Abonnement.Tatoeba #3927910 by Tickler, translation #436889 by lukaszpp
- Ich habe ein Abonnement für die Zeitung.I have a subscription for the newspaper.
- Ich habe ein Abo für Netflix.I have a subscription for Netflix.
- Ich habe einen Vertrag für mein Handy.I have a subscription for my mobile phone.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lukas and Hannah are discussing a streaming service.
- LukasHast du ein Abonnement für diesen Dienst?Do you have a subscription for this service?
- HannahJa, ich teile mein Abonnement mit meiner Schwester.Yes, I share my subscription with my sister.
- LukasIst das Abonnement sehr teuer?Is the subscription very expensive?
- HannahNein, es kostet nur fünf Euro im Monat.No, it only costs five euros per month.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “subscription” translations and entries Abonnement, Bezug, Zugang, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Abonnement, Bezug, Zugang, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
