verb

kündigen

quit · resign

Einem Arbeitsverhältnis oder Vertrag ein Ende setzen, sodass jemand nicht mehr dort arbeitet oder eine Vereinbarung nicht mehr gilt.

Definition & meaning

The verb kündigen has two primary meanings in German:

To terminate a contract or subscription: This refers to the act of giving notice to end a legal or business relationship, such as an apartment lease, an insurance policy, a membership, or a service contract.
To resign or to fire: This refers specifically to the workplace. It can mean that an employee decides to leave their job (to resign) or that an employer decides to dismiss an employee (to fire/lay off). The distinction is usually made by the context or the preposition used (e.g., "jemandem kündigen" = to fire someone; "bei jemandem kündigen" = to resign from a position).

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

Part of speech: Verb (regular, weak).
Conjugation: ich kündige, du kündigst, er/sie/es kündigt, wir kündigen, ihr kündigt, sie/Sie kündigen.
Past tense (Präteritum): kündigte.
Past participle (Perfekt): gekündigt.
Reflexive: Not typically used reflexively.

Origin: The word is derived from the Middle High German kündegen, which stems from the Old High German kundigōn (to make known). It is etymologically related to the German word kund , which means "known" or "public." Historically, it meant to make a fact known, specifically the intent to end an arrangement.