das
Aufsehen
👀 What does "das Aufsehen" mean?
Das Aufsehen (neuter noun) describes a situation where something or someone causes great public interest, astonishment, or often disapproval. It refers to a sensation, a stir, a commotion, or simply an event that attracts general attention.
It is almost exclusively used in the singular and always takes the article "das". There isn't a commonly used plural form.
- Core meaning: Public attention, often unexpected or spectacular.
- Connotation: Can be neutral, positive (e.g., admiration) or negative (e.g., scandal, outrage).
🚨 Remember: Always das Aufsehen!
Article rules for der, die, and das
Deverbal nouns → immer neutral.
These are nouns derived from verbs. They are also called Verbalsubstantive or Verbalnomen.
🧐 Grammar of "das Aufsehen" in detail
"Das Aufsehen" is a noun of neuter gender (Neutrum). It is typically used only in the singular because it's an abstract noun (similar to der Durst - thirst or die Ruhe - calmness).
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Definite Article | Indefinite Article | English Case |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominativ | das Aufsehen | ein Aufsehen | Nominative (Subject) |
| Genitiv | des Aufsehens | eines Aufsehens | Genitive (Possessive) |
| Dativ | dem Aufsehen | einem Aufsehen | Dative (Indirect Object) |
| Akkusativ | das Aufsehen | ein Aufsehen | Accusative (Direct Object) |
📝 Application Examples
- Der Vorfall sorgte für großes Aufsehen in der Presse.
(The incident caused a big stir in the press.) [Nominative sense, but technically Accusative here after 'für'] - Trotz des großen Aufsehens blieb der Künstler ruhig.
(Despite the big commotion, the artist remained calm.) [Genitive] - Er wollte dem Aufsehen entgehen und verließ die Stadt.
(He wanted to avoid the attention and left the city.) [Dative] - Sie versuchte, unnötiges Aufsehen zu vermeiden.
(She tried to avoid unnecessary commotion.) [Accusative] - Er erregte Aufsehen mit seiner ungewöhnlichen Kleidung.
(He caused a stir with his unusual clothing.) [Accusative, fixed phrase]
💡 How to use "das Aufsehen"
"Das Aufsehen" is often used in fixed expressions (feste Wendungen):
- Aufsehen erregen: To cause a stir, attract attention, often through something unusual or spectacular. (Example: Sein neuer Film erregte weltweites Aufsehen. - His new film caused a worldwide sensation.)
- für Aufsehen sorgen: Similar to "Aufsehen erregen", emphasizes the active causing of attention. (Example: Die Entdeckung sorgte für großes Aufsehen in der Wissenschaftswelt. - The discovery caused a great stir in the scientific world.)
- unnötiges Aufsehen vermeiden: To try to remain inconspicuous and not attract much attention. (Example: Bitte verhaltet euch ruhig, um unnötiges Aufsehen zu vermeiden. - Please behave calmly to avoid unnecessary attention.)
- unter großem Aufsehen: Describes an event accompanied by much public interest. (Example: Die Hochzeit fand unter großem Aufsehen der Medien statt. - The wedding took place amidst great media attention.)
Context: You often find "das Aufsehen" in news reports, articles about events, scandals, or remarkable occurrences. It implies that many people are looking, talking about it, or are surprised.
Differentiation: While die Aufmerksamkeit (attention) is more neutral, das Aufsehen often implies something unexpected, loud, or even negative (like a scandal). Die Sensation is similar but emphasizes the spectacular aspect even more.
🧠 Mnemonics for "das Aufsehen"
For the article "das": Think of das spectacle or das event. Many abstract nouns describing an occurrence are neuter in German, like das Aufsehen.
For the meaning "sensation/stir": Imagine everyone looking up (auf) and seeing (sehen) something unusual happening in the street – this causes a big Aufsehen (stir, commotion).
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (similar meaning):
- Die Sensation: A strong term for something causing a stir, often positive or neutral.
- Der Rummel: More colloquial for a big fuss or hubbub about something.
- Das Furore: More formal for great, usually positive, sensation (e.g., in the arts). (Furore machen - to cause a furore)
- Der Skandal: Commotion due to a morally offensive or illegal incident (negative).
- Der Wirbel: A whirl, bustle, a lot of activity and commotion.
- Das Getue: Rather derogatory for an exaggerated fuss about something.
Antonyms (opposite meaning):
- Die Unauffälligkeit: Inconspicuousness, the state of not being noticed.
- Die Ruhe: Calmness, quietness, absence of disturbance or commotion.
- Die Stille: Silence, absence of noise.
- Die Gleichgültigkeit: Indifference, lack of interest or concern.
- Die Diskretion: Discretion, tactful and inconspicuous behavior.
⚠️ Similar words:
😂 A little joke
DE: Warum hat das Chamäleon nie für Aufsehen gesorgt? Weil es sich immer perfekt angepasst hat und niemand es bemerkt hat! 😉
EN: Why did the chameleon never cause a stir (Aufsehen)? Because it always blended in perfectly and nobody noticed it! 😉
📜 Poem about "das Aufsehen"
DE:
Ein Blitz am Himmel, hell und klar,
ein Knall, der laut durch Straßen war.
Ein Artist, der kühn balanciert,
hat aller Blicke schnell fixiert.
Das Aufsehen war sofort präsent,
ein unerwartetes Event.
Man tuschelt, staunt und schaut gebannt,
wenn Neues tritt ins Alltagsland.
EN:
A flash in the sky, bright and clear,
A bang that echoed, loud to hear.
An artist balancing with might,
Quickly captured everyone's sight.
The stir (das Aufsehen) was present right away,
An unexpected event that day.
People whisper, marvel, gaze entranced,
When novelty enters the daily expanse.
🧩 Little Riddle
DE:
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch sorge für Gerede.
Ich habe keine Augen, doch zieh' Blicke auf die Szene.
Manchmal bin ich laut, ein Skandal vielleicht,
manchmal nur ein Staunen, das leis' über Lippen streicht.
Man will mich oft vermeiden, doch manchmal sucht man mich.
Mit Artikel "das" steh' ich für mich.
Wer oder was bin ich?
Lösung: das Aufsehen
EN:
I have no mouth, yet I cause talk and chatter.
I have no eyes, yet draw gazes to the matter.
Sometimes I am loud, perhaps a scandal's blight,
Sometimes just amazement, crossing lips so light.
People often shun me, yet sometimes seek my trace.
With the article "das", I stand in my own space.
Who or what am I?
Solution: das Aufsehen (the stir/commotion/sensation)
✨ More Tidbits
Word Composition:
"Das Aufsehen" is a nominalized verb (substantiviertes Verb). It derives from the verb "aufsehen". Literally, "aufsehen" means "to look up" or "to raise one's gaze". Figuratively, it can also mean "to look up to someone" (admiration). The noun "das Aufsehen" evolved from the meaning of many people suddenly looking when something remarkable happens.
Interesting: Although the verb "aufsehen" exists, the noun "das Aufsehen" is mostly used in the fixed expressions mentioned above and less frequently as a direct object of the verb.
Summary: is it der, die or das Aufsehen?
The correct article for "Aufsehen" is always "das". It is a neuter noun, usually used in the singular, describing a sensation, stir, or public attention. The genitive case is "des Aufsehens".