The invention relates to 5-phenyl-substituted N-(tetrazol-5-yl) aryl carboxylic acid amides and N-(triazol-5-yl) aryl carboxylic acid amides of general formula (I) as herbicides. In said formula (I), W, X, Y, Z, and R stand for groups such as hydrogen, organic groups such as alkyl, and other groups such as halogen. A and B stand for N and CY.