Ausgehandeln

Ausgehandeln is a German verb form used to describe the act of negotiating terms or an agreement through discussion. It is commonly applied in business, contracts, price negotiations, and labor or political bargaining. The sense is that parties have reached or determined terms by deliberate discussion rather than by imposition.

Usage examples are widespread. An agreement or price is said to be “ausgehandelt” when it has been negotiated to mutual acceptance, as in “Wir haben den Preis ausgehandelt” or “Die Bedingungen wurden ausgehandelt.” In formal contexts one might speak of contracts or settlements that are “ausgehandelt” between the parties. The expression occurs in both written and spoken German.

Spelling and formality notes. The verb is often written as ausverhandeln in its infinitive, with the past participle ausverhandelt, especially in more formal or precise usage. In everyday language, however, the form ausgehandelt (past participle) is very common and understood as corresponding to aushandeln. Both forms convey the idea of negotiating a deal, but ausverhandeln can imply a more thorough or final negotiation process.

Etymology and related terms. The word derives from handeln (to deal or bargain) with the prefix aus-, indicating completion or outworking of the negotiation. Related terms include verhandeln (to negotiate in general) and Verhandlung (negotiation). The chosen prefix can subtly affect nuance: aushandeln/ausgehandelt emphasizes the act of negotiating to a resolution, while ausverhandeln/ausverhandelt underscores a concluded agreement.