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German Phrase

Extra-Kosten fürs Ausland

/ˈɛkstra ˈkɔstən fyːɐ̯s ˈaʊsˌlant/
Meaning"Extra costs for abroad"
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Meaning

Literally ‘extra costs for abroad’, this phrase is used to refer to additional fees that apply when something is done outside of the home country – e.g., shipping, insurance, or service surcharges.

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When to use

Use it when discussing travel expenses, international shipping, insurance policies, or any service that charges a higher price for foreign destinations. It is common in both casual conversation and formal business contexts.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Extra-KostenfürsAusland

1

Extra‑Kosten (compound noun)

A hyphenated compound noun; ‘Extra’ works as a prefix meaning ‘additional’, and ‘Kosten’ means ‘costs’. The plural ending –en is already part of the base noun.

2

fürs = für das

‘fürs’ is the contracted form of the preposition ‘für’ + the neuter definite article ‘das’. It is common in spoken and informal written German.

3

Ausland (neuter)

‘Ausland’ is a neuter noun meaning ‘foreign country/abroad’. It takes the article ‘das’ in the nominative and accusative.

🗨In Conversation

A

Gibt es Extra‑Kosten fürs Ausland?

Are there extra costs for abroad?

Ja, wir berechnen einen Aufpreis von 20 % für Lieferungen ins Ausland.

Yes, we charge a 20 % surcharge for deliveries abroad.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Extra Kosten fürs Ausland

    Missing hyphen; the correct compound is ‘Extra‑Kosten’.

  • Extra‑Kosten für das Ausland

    While grammatically correct, in spoken German the contracted form ‘fürs’ sounds more natural.

  • Extra‑Kosten fürs Aus‑land

    Pronounce the first syllable with a clear /aʊ/ diphthong; saying /ˈaʊs.lant/ without the schwa can sound non‑native.

↔Alternatives

  • Zusätzliche Kosten für das Ausland

    Additional costs for abroad

  • Mehrkosten bei Auslandsreisen

    Higher costs on foreign trips

  • Aufpreis für das Ausland

    Surcharge for abroad

de

Cultural Tip

In German business communication it is polite to state any ‘Extra‑Kosten fürs Ausland’ up front, often in a separate line of a contract or invoice. The term ‘Ausland’ is neutral and covers any country outside Germany, but in some contexts speakers prefer ‘im Ausland’ (in abroad) to stress the location rather than the destination.