das  Geräusch

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈʁɔɪʃ/

👂 What exactly is a 'Geräusch'?

Das Geräusch (noun, neuter) generally refers to an audible Schall (sound) or Laut (sound, utterance). It's often a non-specific, undefined acoustic event. Unlike a Ton (which has a specific frequency) or a Klang (which is often perceived as harmonic), a Geräusch can be anything – from a quiet rustle to a loud bang.

Frequently, the term is also used for annoying or unwanted sounds (similar to Lärm (noise), but not necessarily loud). However, it can also describe neutral or even pleasant sounds (e.g., das Geräusch des Meeres - the sound of the sea).

• Neutral meaning: Hörst du dieses seltsame Geräusch? (Do you hear that strange sound?)
• Negative connotation (disturbance): Die ständigen Geräusche aus der Nachbarwohnung nerven. (The constant noises from the neighboring apartment are annoying.)
• Positive/Neutral connotation: Das leise Geräusch des Regens wirkt beruhigend. (The soft sound of the rain is calming.)

🚨 There is only one article for Geräusch: das. Other articles are incorrect.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'das Geräusch' in Detail

The word "Geräusch" is a neuter noun. It follows the strong declension pattern.

📝 Application Examples

1. Ein leises Geräusch drang durch die Tür. (A faint sound came through the door. - Nominative Singular)
2. Die Ursache des Geräusches war unklar. (The cause of the sound was unclear. - Genitive Singular)
3. Wir lauschten dem Geräusch des Windes. (We listened to the sound of the wind. - Dative Singular)
4. Ich habe ein seltsames Geräusch gehört. (I heard a strange sound. - Accusative Singular)
5. Die nächtlichen Geräusche machten mir Angst. (The nocturnal sounds scared me. - Nominative Plural)
6. Trotz der Geräusche schlief er tief. (Despite the sounds, he slept deeply. - Genitive Plural)
7. Er achtete nicht auf die vielen Geräusche um ihn herum. (He didn't pay attention to the many sounds around him. - Accusative Plural)

🗣️ How to use 'Geräusch'?

"Das Geräusch" is a very common word in German, describing a wide variety of acoustic perceptions.

• General Sounds: It's the standard term for any unspecified sound. "Ich höre ein Geräusch im Keller." (I hear a sound in the basement.)
• Background Noise: Often used for the sum of ambient sounds. "Die Geräuschkulisse der Stadt ist laut." (The soundscape of the city is loud.)
• Annoying Sounds: Can also be used to describe unwanted or disturbing sounds, often quieter or less intense than "Lärm" (noise). "Dieses ständige Geräusch aus dem Drucker nervt." (This constant sound from the printer is annoying.)
• Nature Sounds: The rustling of the wind, the splashing of water, the chirping of birds – these are all Geräusche. "Die Geräusche des Waldes sind entspannend." (The sounds of the forest are relaxing.)

Differences from similar words

• Lärm (der): Usually refers to loud, unpleasant, and disturbing sounds/noise. Lärm is always negative; Geräusch can be neutral.
• Klang (der): Often used for harmonic, pleasant, or specific sounds (e.g., der Klang einer Glocke - the sound of a bell, der Klang einer Stimme - the sound of a voice). A Klang often has a specific quality; a Geräusch is more general.
• Ton (der): A single sound with a specific, usually constant frequency. A Geräusch is often more complex than a Ton.
• Laut (der): A very general term, similar to Geräusch, but can also refer to an utterance (e.g., a cry).

⚠️ Be careful not to equate "Geräusch" with "Lärm" automatically. A quiet rustle is a Geräusch, but not Lärm.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'das Geräusch'

Remembering the article 'das'

Think of 'Geräusch' sounding a bit like "Gosh!" when you hear a surprising sound. And what do you point at? 'That!' → 'Das!' in German. Or: A sound is often a neutral 'thing' you perceive. Neutral thing -> Neuter article 'das'. Das Geräusch is just 'that sound'.

Remembering the meaning 'Sound/Noise'

'Geräusch' contains 'rausch', similar to the English 'rush' or 'rustle'. Imagine the rushing sound of wind or water – that's a typical Ge-räusch. The 'Ge-' prefix often suggests something collective or diffuse, like the collection of sound waves making up a noise.

🔁 Synonyms & Antonyms of Geräusch

Similar but different words

• Rauschen (das): A specific type of sound, often continuous and unstructured (e.g., Meeresrauschen - sound of the sea, weißes Rauschen - white noise). It's a type of Geräusch.

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum hat der Tontechniker immer Salz dabei? Damit er die Geräusche besser abschmecken kann! 😉

English Translation: Why does the sound engineer always carry salt? So he can season the sounds better! 😉 (It's a pun: 'abschmecken' means to season food, but literally 'to taste off'.)

📜 A Poem about Sounds

German:
Ein leises Knistern, fern und sacht,
Ein Tropfen, der im Dunkeln wacht.
Ein Windhauch, der durch Blätter weht,
Ein fernes Auto, das schnell vergeht.
Das ist die Welt, wie sie erklingt,
Ein jedes Ding sein Geräusch uns bringt.
Mal laut, mal leis', mal nah, mal fern,
Das Ohr vernimmt sie alle gern – oder ungern.

English Translation:
A soft crackle, distant and slight,
A droplet keeping watch in the night.
A breath of wind that blows through leaves,
A distant car that quickly leaves.
That is the world, how it resounds,
Each thing brings us its unique sounds.
Sometimes loud, sometimes low, near or far away,
The ear perceives them all, come what may – gladly or not.

❓ Little Riddle

German:
Ich habe keinen Mund, doch kann ich klingen.
Ich habe keine Flügel, kann doch Schwingungen bringen.
Manchmal bin ich leise, manchmal laut,
Bin oft nur Schall, der durch die Stille taut.
Mal störe ich, mal bin ich Hintergrund,
Mal mach' ich etwas Unbekanntes kund.
Was bin ich?

English Translation:
I have no mouth, yet I can sound.
I have no wings, yet can bring vibrations around.
Sometimes I am quiet, sometimes loud,
Am often just sound, thawing through silence's shroud.
Sometimes I disturb, sometimes I'm background hum,
Sometimes I announce something unknown to come.

What am I? (Solution: das Geräusch / a sound, a noise)

💡 Other Interesting Info

Word Composition

The word "Geräusch" likely consists of the prefix "Ge-" and a form of the verb "rauschen" (to rustle, murmur, roar). The prefix "Ge-" here might indicate a collective or comprehensive sense (similar to Gebirge - mountains, Gerede - chatter), fitting the idea of a diffuse or general sound event.

Types of Sounds (Arten von Geräuschen)

Sounds can be categorized by their source (Tiergeräusch - animal sound, Maschinengeräusch - machine sound), volume (leise - quiet, laut - loud), duration (kurz - short, lang - long), or perception (angenehm - pleasant, störend - annoying). Examples:

• Naturgeräusche (Nature sounds: rain, wind, animal calls)
• Menschliche Geräusche (Human sounds: footsteps, coughing, speaking)
• Technische Geräusche (Technical sounds: engine, computer fan, doorbell)
• Umgebungsgeräusche (Ambient sounds: traffic, background music)