In 15 Seconds
- Official release from hospital or job.
- Passive voice: you are being let go.
- Can be positive (hospital) or negative (job).
- Focuses on the act of discharge.
Meaning
This phrase signals the end of your stay or position, usually in a formal or official capacity. Think of it as the moment someone says, 'You're free to go now' or 'Your time here is up.' It carries a weight of finality, whether it's a relief (leaving the hospital!) or a disappointment (losing your job).
Key Examples
3 of 12Texting a friend about leaving the hospital
Endlich bin ich zu Hause! Ich wurde heute Nachmittag entlassen.
Finally, I'm home! I was discharged this afternoon.
Job interview follow-up email
Ich verstehe, dass das Unternehmen umstrukturiert und einige Mitarbeiter entlassen werden müssen.
I understand that the company is restructuring and some employees will have to be laid off.
Watching a news report about a company
Viele Leute werden nächste Woche entlassen, weil die Fabrik schließt.
Many people will be laid off next week because the factory is closing.
Cultural Background
The 'Entlassungsbrief' is a sacred document in German healthcare. It contains every detail of your stay and must be given to your 'Hausarzt' (family doctor) immediately. Being 'entlassen' is legally difficult for employers. There is a 'Kündigungsfrist' (notice period) that usually lasts 3 months, meaning you aren't 'entlassen' instantly unless it's for a crime. In Austria, the term 'Abfertigung' refers to the payment you receive when you are 'entlassen' after many years of service. Swiss labor laws are slightly more liberal than German ones, making it easier to be 'entlassen', but the term remains the standard formal expression.
Passive is Key
Always remember that 'entlassen werden' is passive. If you forget 'werden', you are the one doing the firing!
Preposition Alert
Use 'aus' for hospitals and prisons. Using 'von' makes it sound like the building itself fired you.
In 15 Seconds
- Official release from hospital or job.
- Passive voice: you are being let go.
- Can be positive (hospital) or negative (job).
- Focuses on the act of discharge.
What It Means
This phrase, entlassen werden, essentially means to be let go, released, or discharged. It's that official moment when you're no longer obligated to be somewhere or do something. It can feel like a huge relief, like finally leaving the hospital after a long illness. Or, it can be a tough moment, like being let go from your job. The key is that it's an official action taken *by* someone else *to* you. You are the recipient of the action.
How To Use It
You use entlassen werden when you are officially allowed to leave a place or a role. It's most common in two main scenarios: medical and employment. In a hospital, doctors or nurses will say you are entlassen when you're well enough to go home. In a work context, it means your employment is terminated, often due to layoffs or restructuring. It's passive voice, so you are the one *being* discharged, not doing the discharging. You wouldn't say 'I entlasse him,' but rather 'He wird entlassen.'
Real-Life Examples
Imagine you're recovering from surgery. Your doctor might say, 'Herr Müller, Sie können morgen nach Hause, Sie werden entlassen.' (Mr. Müller, you can go home tomorrow, you are being discharged.) Or, if a company is downsizing, an HR representative might inform an employee, 'Leider müssen wir Ihnen mitteilen, dass Sie zum Monatsende entlassen werden.' (Unfortunately, we have to inform you that you will be laid off at the end of the month.) It’s a very direct statement of your status change.
When To Use It
Use entlassen werden when you're talking about being officially released from a hospital, clinic, or similar medical facility. It's also the standard phrase for being fired or laid off from a job. Think of situations where there's a formal process and a decision made by an authority. If you're leaving a party, you don't say you're entlassen; you just leave! That's a much more casual affair.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use entlassen werden for casual departures. You wouldn't say you were entlassen from a friend's house, even if they kicked you out! That's too formal. Also, avoid using it for graduating from school or university. While it's an end to a period, it's usually celebrated, not a 'discharge.' Think of it as a release from an obligation or a place of care/work, not a completion of a course.
Common Mistakes
A frequent slip-up is using the active voice incorrectly. Someone might mistakenly say, 'Der Arzt entlässt mich.' While grammatically possible, it sounds a bit odd, like you're taking credit for the doctor's decision. The natural, common way is passive: 'Ich werde vom Arzt entlassen.' Another mistake is confusing it with simply leaving. You don't get entlassen from a train station; you catch a train!
Similar Expressions
There are other ways to express leaving or ending something. Verabschiedet werden means to be bid farewell, which is more about the social goodbye. Gekündigt werden specifically means to be given notice of termination (fired). Freigelassen werden means to be set free, often from captivity or imprisonment. Entlassen werden is a bit more neutral, focusing on the official release itself.
Common Variations
Sometimes, you'll hear entlassen used as a past participle, like 'Er wurde gestern entlassen' (He was discharged yesterday). You might also see it combined with adverbs: 'frühzeitig entlassen werden' (to be discharged early) or 'unerwartet entlassen werden' (to be unexpectedly laid off). The core meaning remains the same: an official release.
Memory Trick
Picture a doctor handing you a release form at the hospital, saying, "You are released!" The word 'release' sounds a bit like entlassen. Now, imagine that same doctor also has to fire someone, and they hand them a pink slip. That's the dual meaning: released from care, or released from duty. The werden (to become/to be) just makes it passive – you are the one *being* released.
Quick FAQ
Q. Is entlassen werden always negative?
A. Not at all! Being discharged from the hospital is usually great news. Being laid off can be tough, but sometimes it's a necessary step towards a better opportunity. The phrase itself is neutral; the context gives it its emotional weight.
Usage Notes
This phrase is primarily used in the passive voice (`werden` + past participle). It carries a neutral to formal tone, depending on the context. Be mindful that while neutral in itself, the situation (hospital vs. job loss) heavily influences the emotional reception. Avoid using it for casual departures or completions like graduation.
Passive is Key
Always remember that 'entlassen werden' is passive. If you forget 'werden', you are the one doing the firing!
Preposition Alert
Use 'aus' for hospitals and prisons. Using 'von' makes it sound like the building itself fired you.
Job Interviews
If you were laid off, say 'Ich wurde betriebsbedingt entlassen'. It sounds professional and explains that it wasn't your fault.
Examples
12Endlich bin ich zu Hause! Ich wurde heute Nachmittag entlassen.
Finally, I'm home! I was discharged this afternoon.
Here, `entlassen werden` refers to being medically cleared to leave the hospital. It's a happy occasion!
Ich verstehe, dass das Unternehmen umstrukturiert und einige Mitarbeiter entlassen werden müssen.
I understand that the company is restructuring and some employees will have to be laid off.
This uses `entlassen werden` in the context of job termination due to company changes.
Viele Leute werden nächste Woche entlassen, weil die Fabrik schließt.
Many people will be laid off next week because the factory is closing.
A common scenario where the passive `entlassen werden` is used for mass layoffs.
Nach Wochen im Krankenhaus, endlich entlassen! Bereit für ein neues Kapitel. ✨ #Gesundwerden #Neuanfang
After weeks in the hospital, finally discharged! Ready for a new chapter. ✨ #GettingHealthy #NewBeginning
Using `entlassen` as a past participle in a celebratory caption.
Keine Sorge, ich bin nicht krank. Ich wurde nur aus Versehen für einen Tag ins Krankenhaus eingeliefert und jetzt entlassen.
Don't worry, I'm not sick. I was just accidentally admitted to the hospital for a day and now discharged.
A slightly humorous, casual explanation of a minor hospital stay and release.
Aufgrund wirtschaftlicher Schwierigkeiten werden leider 50 Mitarbeiter entlassen.
Due to economic difficulties, unfortunately, 50 employees will be laid off.
A very formal and direct statement about layoffs.
✗ Ich entlasse mich aus dem Krankenhaus.
✗ I discharge myself from the hospital.
This is incorrect because *you* don't discharge yourself; the hospital does. The passive voice is needed.
✗ Ich werde vom Bahnhof entlassen.
✗ I am discharged from the train station.
You don't get 'discharged' from a train station; you simply leave or depart. `Entlassen werden` implies an official release by an authority.
Der Held wurde aus dem Gefängnis entlassen und musste seine Unschuld beweisen.
The hero was released from prison and had to prove his innocence.
Here, `entlassen werden` means being set free, similar to 'released'.
Sie hat ihren Job verloren, weil die Firma pleite ist und sie wurde entlassen.
She lost her job because the company went bankrupt and she was laid off.
Clear usage for losing a job due to company failure.
Mein Hamster wurde heute aus seinem Laufrad entlassen. Er hat zu viel trainiert!
My hamster was discharged from his wheel today. He exercised too much!
A funny, anthropomorphic use of `entlassen werden` for a pet's activity.
Mein Praktikum ist vorbei und ich werde entlassen. Es war eine tolle Erfahrung!
My internship is over and I am being let go. It was a great experience!
Used here for the end of a temporary position, like an internship.
Test Yourself
Füllen Sie die Lücke mit der richtigen Form von 'entlassen werden'.
Gestern ________ der {der|m} Patient aus dem {das|n} Krankenhaus ________.
Since it happened 'gestern' (yesterday), we need the Präteritum passive.
Welcher Satz ist richtig?
A: Ich habe meinen Job entlassen. B: Ich wurde von meinem Chef entlassen.
You are the recipient of the action, so you need the passive 'wurde entlassen'.
Ordnen Sie die Situation dem Satz zu.
1. Krankenhaus, 2. Gefängnis, 3. Firma
Genesung (recovery) fits hospital; Haft (custody) fits prison; Diebstahl (theft) fits being fired from a firm.
Vervollständigen Sie den Dialog.
A: Warum weinst du? B: Mein {der|m} Vater ________ heute ________.
In the context of crying, it implies he lost his job (past event).
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Who makes the decision?
Practice Bank
4 exercisesGestern ________ der {der|m} Patient aus dem {das|n} Krankenhaus ________.
Since it happened 'gestern' (yesterday), we need the Präteritum passive.
A: Ich habe meinen Job entlassen. B: Ich wurde von meinem Chef entlassen.
You are the recipient of the action, so you need the passive 'wurde entlassen'.
1. Krankenhaus, 2. Gefängnis, 3. Firma
Genesung (recovery) fits hospital; Haft (custody) fits prison; Diebstahl (theft) fits being fired from a firm.
A: Warum weinst du? B: Mein {der|m} Vater ________ heute ________.
In the context of crying, it implies he lost his job (past event).
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo! In a hospital context, it's great news—it means you're healthy enough to go home.
Only in very formal contexts, like a graduation ceremony ('aus der Schule entlassen'). For daily use, just use 'gehen' or 'fertig sein'.
'Entlassen' is formal and neutral. 'Gefeuert' is informal and implies you did something wrong.
In the passive voice, you use 'sein' + 'worden'. Example: 'Ich bin entlassen worden.'
No, he would 'zurücktreten' (resign) or 'sein Amt niederlegen'.
It means 'honorably discharged', usually from the military or a high public office.
The Participle II is 'entlassen'. 'Entlasst' is the 2nd person plural present (Ihr entlasst).
Yes, 'von' is okay if you mean the institution as an agent, but 'aus' is more common for the location.
Yes, constantly. It's the standard term for reporting on company layoffs.
It means 'mass layoffs', when a company lets go of a large number of employees at once.
Related Phrases
jemanden kündigen
synonymTo terminate someone's contract.
jemanden freistellen
similarTo release someone from work duties while still paying them.
jemanden beurlauben
similarTo give someone a leave of absence.
aus dem Dienst scheiden
specialized formTo leave service (usually civil service or military).
