der  Druck

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/dʁʊk/

📖 What does "der Druck" mean?

The word der Druck is a masculine noun with several meanings:

• Physical Pressure 💨: The force exerted on a surface (e.g., Luftdruck - air pressure, Wasserdruck - water pressure).
• Printing/Graphics 📰: The process of printing or its result (e.g., Buchdruck - book printing, Zeitungsdruck - newspaper printing, a finished Druck - print/copy). It often also refers to the print run or edition of a printed work.
• Psychological/Social Pressure 🤯: Coercion, stress, or a burden exerted on a person (e.g., Leistungsdruck - pressure to perform, Zeitdruck - time pressure, Gruppendruck - peer pressure).
• Medical Pressure 🩺: Especially Blutdruck - blood pressure.

⚠️ Pay attention to the context to understand the correct meaning!

🧐 Grammar of "der Druck" in Detail

Der Druck is a masculine noun. It has irregular plural forms depending on the meaning.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

The plural depends on the meaning:

• For physical pressure and psychological/social pressure, the singular is often used, or the form Drücke (rare, more technical for physical pressure). It's usually rephrased or kept singular.
• For printing/graphics, the plural Drucke is common (e.g., for individual prints, art prints).
• For the print run of a book etc., the singular is preferred ("im Druck" - in print, "der zweite Druck" - the second printing).

💡 Application Examples

1. Physical: Der Druck in der Gasflasche ist sehr hoch. (The pressure in the gas cylinder is very high.)
2. Printing: Dieser Künstler fertigt wunderschöne Drucke an. (This artist makes beautiful prints.) Das Buch geht bald in den zweiten Druck. (The book will soon go into its second printing.)
3. Psychological: Sie steht bei der Arbeit unter großem Druck. (She is under a lot of pressure at work.) Der soziale Druck in der Gruppe war enorm. (The social pressure in the group was enormous.)
4. Medical: Mein Blutdruck ist heute etwas niedrig. (My blood pressure is a bit low today.)

🗣️ How to use "Druck"?

The use of der Druck is highly context-dependent:

• In a technical or physical context 🔧, one often speaks of Luftdruck (air pressure), Wasserdruck (water pressure), Reifendruck (tire pressure). Here, it means force per unit area.
• In the field of media and publishing 📚, Druck refers to the printing process (Offsetdruck - offset printing, Digitaldruck - digital printing), the result (ein fertiger Druck - a finished print, Kunstdruck - art print), or the print run (der erste Druck war schnell vergriffen - the first print run sold out quickly).
• In a social or professional environment 💼, Druck often describes a burden or coercion (Leistungsdruck - pressure to perform, Zeitdruck - time pressure, Erwartungsdruck - pressure of expectation). Here it is synonymous with stress or tension.
• In medicine ❤️, it usually means Blutdruck (blood pressure), sometimes also Augeninnendruck (intraocular pressure).

Risk of confusion? Sometimes Druck is equated with Stress or Belastung (burden). While Stress describes the internal reaction, Druck is often the external cause. Belastung is a more general term for something difficult or strenuous.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Druck"

For the article: Imagine a strong DEeR (sounds like 'der') PUSHING ('drucking') against a tree. Der Deer exerts Druck.

For the meanings: Think of the chain: A printing press exerts Druck (physical pressure) to produce a Druck (print). When the deadline looms, it creates Druck (stress/psychological pressure).

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms

Similar-sounding/confusing words:

• drücken (verb): The action that creates pressure (to press, to push).
• Ausdruck (der): Can mean facial expression, a phrase, or a computer printout.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Drucker keinen Urlaub?
Sie haben Angst vor dem Druckabfall!

(Why don't printers take vacations?
They are afraid of the pressure drop! - a pun on 'Druckabfall' which can mean a drop in printing quality or a drop in pressure.)

📜 Poem about Druck

Mal presst er Luft, mal Tinte fein,
Der Druck kann vieles sein.
Mal lastet er auf Herz und Sinn,
Treibt uns zur Eile, zum Gewinn.
Ob auf Papier, ob in der Brust,
Mal bringt er Freude, mal Verlust.

(Sometimes it presses air, sometimes fine ink,
The pressure can be many things.
Sometimes it weighs on heart and mind,
Drives us to hurry, to find gain.
Whether on paper or in the chest,
Sometimes it brings joy, sometimes distress (lit. loss).)

❓ Little Riddle

Ich kann auf Reifen lasten schwer,
Bring' Nachrichten von weit her (auf Papier).
Ich sitz' im Kopf, wenn's eilig ist,
Und messe, wie dein Herzschlag ist.

Was bin ich?

(I can weigh heavily on tires,
Bring news from afar (on paper).
I sit in the head when things are rushed,
And measure how your heartbeat is.

What am I?)

(Solution: der Druck)

➕ Other Information

Word Compounds (Komposita): The word "Druck" is part of many compound nouns that illustrate its various meanings:

• Blutdruck (blood pressure - medical)
• Zeitdruck (time pressure - psychological/social)
• Leistungsdruck (pressure to perform - psychological/social)
• Buchdruck (book printing - printing)
• Luftdruck (air pressure - physical)
• Wasserdruck (water pressure - physical)
• Händedruck (handshake - social gesture, literal)
• Ausdruck (printout, expression - result)
• Eindruck (impression - effect on someone)

Etymology: The word comes from the verb drücken, meaning "to press", "to push".