01
abladen
to unload
To remove a load or freight from a vehicle or means of transport.
example
Der LKW-Fahrer muss den Sand auf der Baustelle abladen.
The truck driver has to unload the sand at the construction site.
abladen
to unload / dump
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abladen' (to unload / dump) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ab-' stands at the end in main clauses. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu,' the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer lädt das Heu vom Wagen ab.
The farmer unloads the hay from the wagon.
Literal and figurative
The verb has a literal meaning (taking freight off a truck) and a figurative one (getting rid of problems by putting them on someone else). The object makes the difference: 'Sand abladen' (to unload sand) is literal; 'Frust abladen' (to unload frustration) is figurative.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir helfen, die Einkäufe aus dem Auto abzuladen?
Can you help me unload the groceries from the car?
Colloquial meaning
In connection with trash, 'abladen' (to dump) has a negative, colloquial meaning. It often implies that something is disposed of illegally or in an inappropriate place.
EXAMPLE
Wer hat seinen alten Fernseher einfach hier am Straßenrand abgeladen?
Who just dumped their old TV here by the side of the road?
Unload worries 'bei' someone
In the figurative meaning, the person who has to listen to the problems is named with the preposition 'bei' and the dative. The structure is: something (accusative) bei jemandem (dative) abladen.
EXAMPLE
Nach einem schlechten Tag hat er seinen ganzen Ärger bei seiner Freundin abgeladen.
After a bad day, he unloaded all his anger on his girlfriend.
Compare with
abladen vs loswerden
to get rid of / to say
'loswerden' and 'abladen' can both mean getting something unpleasant away from yourself. 'loswerden' is more neutral and more general: you can get rid of old things, worries, or even a thought. 'abladen' sounds more concrete when you put things down somewhere, and often negative when it is about trash or problems. In a figurative sense, 'abladen' often means that someone leaves their worries or responsibility with another person. Learners may confuse the words, but 'abladen' puts more emphasis on the burden ending up with someone else or in a particular place afterward.
abladen
Bitte lade deine Probleme nicht immer bei mir ab.
Please don't always unload your problems on me.
loswerden
Nach dem langen Gespräch konnte Anna endlich ihre Sorgen loswerden.
After the long conversation, Anna was finally able to get her worries off her chest.
In real life
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