der  Angriff

B1

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈaŋɡʁɪf/

🎯 What does "der Angriff" mean?

Der Angriff (noun, masculine) generally describes an action where someone or something actively attacks or proceeds against something or someone. It has several specific meanings:

• Military/Sports: An offensive, an advance against an opponent. Example: Der Angriff der Mannschaft begann auf der linken Flanke. (The team's attack started on the left flank.)
• Verbal/Criticism: Sharp criticism or hostility. Example: Seine Rede war ein direkter Angriff auf die Regierungspolitik. (His speech was a direct attack on government policy.)
• Medical (less common): A sudden onset or fit of an illness (often used more specifically than der Anfall). Example: Ein Asthma-Angriff. (An asthma attack.)
• Technical/Security: An attempt to compromise a system (e.g., Hackerangriff - hacker attack). Example: Der Server wehrte den Angriff ab. (The server repelled the attack.)

🚨 The word is almost exclusively used with the article der.

📚 Grammar of "der Angriff" in Detail

"Angriff" is a masculine noun. Here is its declension:

💡 Application Examples

1. Der Angriff erfolgte im Morgengrauen.
   (The attack occurred at dawn.)
2. Die Planung des Angriffs dauerte Wochen.
   (The planning of the attack took weeks.)
3. Wir begegneten dem Angriff mit einer starken Verteidigung.
   (We met the attack with a strong defense.)
4. Der Feind startete den Angriff unerwartet.
   (The enemy launched the attack unexpectedly.)
5. Die Angriffe wurden erfolgreich abgewehrt.
   (The attacks were successfully repelled.)
6. Die Opfer der Angriffe benötigten Hilfe.
   (The victims of the attacks needed help.)
7. Man muss den Angriffen standhalten.
   (One must withstand the attacks.)
8. Wir analysierten die Angriffe genau.
   (We analyzed the attacks closely.)

🗣️ How to use "der Angriff"?

"Der Angriff" is used in various contexts:

• Military & Conflict: Very common for military operations or acts of war. (Angriff auf eine Stadt - attack on a city)
• Sports: Refers to the offense of a team or player. (ein schneller Angriff im Fußball - a fast attack in football)
• Debate & Politics: For verbal attacks, criticism, or polemics. (ein persönlicher Angriff - a personal attack)
• Technology: In cybersecurity for hacker attacks, virus attacks, etc. (ein DDoS-Angriff - a DDoS attack)
• Medicine: Less commonly for acute episodes of illness. (ein Asthma-Angriff - an asthma attack)

Distinction from other words:

• Die Attacke: Often synonymous with Angriff, sometimes perceived as slightly more sudden or less planned.
• Die Offensive: Typically refers to a planned, longer-lasting phase of attack (mostly military or sports).
• Der Überfall: Emphasizes the element of surprise and often criminal intent (raid, ambush, mugging).

The expression "Angriff ist die beste Verteidigung" is a well-known idiom meaning "Attack is the best form of defense."

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the article (der): Think of masculine roles associated with attacks: der soldier, der attacker, der boxer. They lead der Angriff.

For the meaning (attack): The word contains "Griff" (grip, grasp). Imagine someone literally greift an (attacks, related to grabbing) – that's an Angriff.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for "der Angriff"

⚠️ Be careful: Words like die Anschrift (address) or der Begriff (term, concept) might sound vaguely similar but have completely different meanings.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer Angst vor einem Angriff?
Weil er zu viele Fenster offen hat!

(Why is the computer afraid of an attack?
Because it has too many windows open!)

📜 Poem about the Attack

Die Stille bricht, ein Horn erklingt,
Der Angriff nun nach vorne dringt.
Mit Mut und Kraft, ein lauter Schrei,
Vorbei ist nun die Ruh, vorbei.

Ob auf dem Feld, im Wortgefecht,
Der Angriff fordert sein Recht.
Doch Weisheit mahnt, eh' man beginnt,
Dass oft die Abwehr still gewinnt.

(The silence breaks, a horn sounds out,
The attack now pushes forward stout.
With courage, strength, a loud cry's flight,
The calm is gone, gone is the light.

Be it on field, in verbal fray,
The attack demands its rightful way.
But wisdom warns before the start,
That defense often plays the winning part.)

🧩 Little Riddle

Ich kann laut sein oder leise,
Starte oft auf krumme Weise.
Im Sport bin ich das Ziel zum Tor,
Im Streit kommt oft mein Name vor.
Bin ich verbal, tut's manchmal weh,
Im Krieg bring' ich oft Ach und Weh.

Was bin ich?

(I can be loud or silent, swift or slow,
Often begin in ways that strangely go.
In sports, I aim towards the goal's embrace,
In arguments, I often find my place.
If verbal, I can cause some pain,
In war, I bring much woe and strain.

What am I?
Solution: der Angriff (the attack))

ℹ️ More Info

Word Composition:

"Der Angriff" is composed of the prefix "an-" (indicating direction towards or initiation) and the noun "der Griff" (grip, grasp, handle). So, it literally describes the act of "going at" or "grasping at" something or someone.

Related Verbs:

• angreifen: to attack (Er greift den Gegner an. - He attacks the opponent.)
• ergreifen: to seize, grasp; to take (a measure)
• begreifen: to comprehend, understand