Herauskommen

Herauskommen is a German verb with several related uses centered on emergence, exit, or publication. The core idea is movement outward from a place, state, or hiddenness.

Senses and usage

- To emerge or appear from somewhere. Examples: Die Wahrheit kommt langsam heraus. Die Kinder kommen aus dem Haus heraus. This sense emphasizes something becoming visible or known.

- To be released or published. Examples: Das Buch kommt nächste Woche heraus. Der Bericht kommt heute heraus. In this sense, herauskommen can denote public availability or release of information, media, or products.

- To come out of a place or situation physically. Examples: Er kommt aus dem Versteck heraus. Das Auto kommt aus der Garage heraus. Here the prefix adds a directional nuance of leaving an interior space.

Grammar and forms

Herauskommen is a separable verb; in main clauses the prefix is typically separated: Das Buch kommt nächsten Monat heraus. In subordinate clauses the finite verb form appears as herauskommt (e.g., dass die Wahrheit herauskommt). The past participle is herausgekommen and is used with sein, as in Die Wahrheit ist herausgekommen. The construction is common with a variety of tenses and modal verbs.

Related and contrasts

Common synonyms include erscheinen, auftreten, auftauchen, and veröffentlichen, depending on nuance (appearance, arrival, or publication). The related verb auskommen means “to get along” and is distinct from herauskommen.

Notes

In the sense of “to come out” as in revealing one’s sexual orientation, German often uses sich outen rather than herauskommen, though colloquial uses may occur. Overall, herauskommen covers emergence, exit, and publication contexts and is widely used in both everyday and journalistic language.