die Aussaat
sowing
The process of sowing; the spreading of seeds in fields or gardens.
EXAMPLE
Im Frühling beginnt für die Landwirte die Zeit der Aussaat.
In spring, the sowing season begins for farmers.
die Aussaat
sowing / seed
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Meanings
die Aussaat
seed
The seed itself; the quantity of seeds intended for sowing.
EXAMPLE
Der Bauer hat die Aussaat für das nächste Jahr bereits im Lager.
The farmer already has the seed for next year in storage.
Usage tips
From verb to noun
'Die Aussaat' (sowing/seed) is the noun form of the separable verb 'aussäen' (to sow). It describes both the action of sowing and the material, meaning the seeds themselves.
EXAMPLE
Die Bauern säen im Frühjahr den Weizen aus.
The farmers sow the wheat in spring.
Action or material?
You can tell whether the action ('das Säen' — sowing) or the material ('die Samen' — the seeds) is meant from the verb. Verbs like 'beginnen' (to begin) or 'vorbereiten' (to prepare) refer to the action, while verbs like 'kaufen' (to buy) or 'lagern' (to store) refer to the seed.
EXAMPLE
Die Aussaat muss vor dem nächsten Regen abgeschlossen sein.
The sowing must be completed before the next rain.
Word family 'Saat'
'Aussaat' belongs to the word family around 'säen' (the verb) and 'die Saat' (the seed). These words are also often used figuratively, for example when someone 'sows' an idea or when a plan 'comes up' like seed.
EXAMPLE
Mit seinen kritischen Fragen hat er den Keim des Zweifels gesät.
With his critical questions, he sowed the seed of doubt.
Compare with
Aussaat vs Saatgut
seed
Saatgut refers to seeds as material or as a supply for cultivation. Aussaat can also refer to seeds, but in that case it tends to mean the quantity intended for a specific sowing operation. Saatgut is therefore usually the better choice for storage and trade, while Aussaat can also refer to the allocated quantity.
Aussaat
Die Aussaat für das Nordfeld ist bereits abgewogen und steht in Säcken bereit.
The seed for the northern field has already been weighed out and is ready in sacks.
Saatgut
Das Saatgut für das Nordfeld lagert bis zum Frühjahr in trockenen Säcken.
The seed for the northern field will be stored in dry sacks until spring.
In real life
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