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German Phrase

Ich hab' die Uni abgeschlossen.

/ɪç haːp diː ˈuːni ˈapˌɡəʃlɔsn̩/
Meaning"I have finished university."
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Meaning

Literally, 'I have finished the university.' It means the speaker has completed their university studies, typically having earned a degree. The phrase is informal due to the contraction 'hab'' and the colloquial shortening of 'Universität' to 'Uni'.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you want to tell friends, family, or colleagues that you have graduated or completed your studies. It works well in casual conversations, social media posts, or when updating a résumé in a relaxed tone.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ichhab'dieUniabgeschlossen

1

Contraction of 'habe'

In colloquial speech, 'habe' is often shortened to 'hab'' (with an apostrophe) to reflect the dropped vowel.

2

Definite article 'die' with feminine nouns

‘Uni’ (short for Universität) is feminine, so it takes the definite article 'die' in the accusative case.

3

Past participle with 'haben'

The perfect tense is formed with the auxiliary verb 'haben' + past participle 'abgeschlossen' to express a completed action.

4

Separable verb 'abschließen'

‘Abschließen’ is a separable verb; in the perfect tense the prefix ‘ab-’ attaches to the past participle, forming 'abgeschlossen'.

🗨In Conversation

A

Hey, was machst du jetzt beruflich?

Hey, what are you doing professionally now?

Ich hab' die Uni abgeschlossen und fange nächste Woche als Junior-Entwickler an.

I finished university and start next week as a junior developer.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Ich hab' die Uni abgeschlossen.

    In formal writing you should use the full form 'habe'.

  • Ich hab' die Uni abgeschlossen.

    If you refer to a specific university, you need the name or a possessive, e.g., 'die Uni von Berlin' or 'meine Uni'.

  • Ich hab' die Uni abgeschlossen.

    Do not confuse with 'abgeschlossen' meaning 'locked', which is a different meaning of the same verb.

↔Alternatives

  • Ich habe mein Studium abgeschlossen.

    I have completed my studies.

  • Ich bin mit der Uni fertig.

    I'm done with university.

  • Ich habe die Universität abgeschlossen.

    I have finished the university.

de

Cultural Tip

In Germany, saying you 'hast die Uni abgeschlossen' is a proud moment often celebrated with a 'Abschlussfeier' (graduation ceremony). While the phrase is perfectly understandable, native speakers usually prefer 'Ich habe mein Studium abgeschlossen' or simply 'Ich habe meinen Abschluss gemacht' in formal contexts. The shortened 'hab'' and 'Uni' are typical among younger speakers and in informal settings.