kündigen

Kündigen is a German verb meaning to terminate a contract or relationship by giving notice, or to resign from a job. It can also mean to announce something, though for public announcements the verb ankündigen is usually used. As a transitive verb, it requires a direct object: ich kündige den Vertrag, er kündigt seine Stelle. The related noun is die Kündigung, which denotes the act of termination or the notice itself. Related terms include die Kündigungsfrist (notice period), die fristlose Kündigung (immediate termination for cause), die ordentliche Kündigung (regular termination) and, in some contexts, die außerordentliche Kündigung.

In legal contexts, Kündigungen are subject to rules in contract and labor law. In employment relationships, the length of the notice depends on statutory or contractual provisions, and the Kündigungsschutz offers protection against unlawful dismissals for certain employees. Terminations may be ordinary (with a notice period) or extraordinary (without notice due to grave reasons). Contracts and leases may also be terminated by notice under their own terms. When drafting a Kündigung, it is common to include identifying details such as the contract or employee and the intended termination date, along with the applicable notice period.