der  Geruch

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡəˈʁʊx/

👃 What does "der Geruch" mean?

Der Geruch (noun, masculine) refers to the perception of volatile chemical substances through the olfactory organ (the nose). It can describe pleasant sensations (like Duft - scent, fragrance; Aroma - aroma) or unpleasant ones (like Gestank - stench, stink; Mief - stuffiness, bad smell). Generally, Geruch is a rather neutral term; the context often determines whether it's perceived positively or negatively.

It only takes the masculine article der. ⚠️ Be careful not to use 'das Geruch' or 'die Geruch'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

📊 Grammar in Detail: Der Geruch

The noun "Geruch" is masculine. Here are the declension tables:

Declension Singular

Note: The genitive and dative singular can optionally end in "-e" (Geruches, Geruche), but this sounds rather formal or dated.

Declension Plural

📝 Application Examples

• Im Wald nahm er den frischen Geruch von feuchter Erde wahr. (In the forest, he perceived the fresh smell of damp earth.)
• Der süßliche Geruch kam aus der Bäckerei. (The sweet smell came from the bakery.)
• Nach dem Kochen hing ein starker Geruch in der Küche. (After cooking, a strong smell lingered in the kitchen.)
• Verschiedene Gerüche stiegen ihm in die Nase. (Various smells reached his nose.)
• Manchmal kann ein Geruch Erinnerungen wecken. (Sometimes a smell can evoke memories.)

🗣️ How to Use "Geruch"?

"Der Geruch" is used to describe any kind of scent or odor perceived by the nose. The context clarifies whether it's pleasant or unpleasant.

• Neutral: "Ich nehme einen seltsamen Geruch wahr." (I perceive a strange smell.)
• Positive (often with adjectives like 'gut' - good, 'angenehm' - pleasant, 'süß' - sweet): "Der Geruch von frisch gebackenem Brot ist wunderbar." (The smell of freshly baked bread is wonderful.) You could also use "Duft" or "Aroma" here.
• Negative (often with adjectives like 'schlecht' - bad, 'unangenehm' - unpleasant, 'faulig' - putrid): "Ein übler Geruch kam aus der Mülltonne." (A foul smell came from the garbage can.) You could also use "Gestank" or "Mief" here.

Typical Collocations:

• ein Geruch von... (e.g., Kaffee, Blumen, Rauch - a smell of... coffee, flowers, smoke)
• ein guter/schlechter Geruch (a good/bad smell)
• ein starker/schwacher Geruch (a strong/faint smell)
• ein vertrauter/fremder Geruch (a familiar/strange smell)
• der Geruchssinn (the sense of smell)

Distinction from Synonyms:

• Duft: Used almost exclusively for pleasant smells (e.g., Blumenduft - flower scent, Parfümduft - perfume fragrance).
• Aroma: Often refers to the smell (and taste) of food and drinks (e.g., Kaffeearoma - coffee aroma).
• Gestank: Used only for very unpleasant smells (stench).
• Witterung: Often refers to the scent perceived by animals or followed by hunters.

🧠 Mnemonics and Memory Aids

For the article 'der': Think of 'der Riecher' (colloquial for nose). Both 'Riecher' and 'Geruch' have a prominent 'R' sound and are masculine. Or maybe: "'Der'ective follows 'der' Geruch (the smell)!"

For the meaning: 'Geruch' contains 'ruch', which sounds a bit like 'rook' (the bird) or maybe 'rough'. Imagine a rough smell. It's closely related to the verb 'riechen' (to smell). You need your nose ('Riecher') to perceive a Geruch.

🔄 Synonyms and Antonyms for Geruch

😄 A Little Joke

Lehrer: "Fritzchen, was ist geruchlos?"
Fritzchen: "Das Taschengeld von meinem Papa nach dem dritten Tag des Monats!"

Translation:
Teacher: "Fritzie, what is odorless?"
Fritzie: "My dad's pocket money after the third day of the month!"

📜 A Little Poem about Geruch

Ein Hauch, ganz zart, liegt in der Luft,
der Geruch von Regen, Blumenduft.
Mal süß, mal herb, mal alt, mal neu,
die Nase nimmt's wahr, ganz nebenbei. Mal ist's ein Stinker, der uns plagt,
mal Wohlgeruch, der uns behagt.
So viel erzählt uns die Welt durch den Geruch,
ein unsichtbares, offenes Buch.

Translation:
A hint, so gentle, lies in the air,
the smell of rain, of flowers fair.
Sometimes sweet, sometimes tart, old, or new,
the nose perceives it, passing through.
Sometimes a stinker that bothers us so,
sometimes a fragrance that makes spirits glow.
The world tells us so much through the smell, you see,
an invisible, open book for you and me.

❓ Riddle

Ich habe keine Stimme, doch ich kann dir viel erzählen,
ob Rosen blühen oder Abfälle dich quälen.
Ich habe keine Form, doch fülle jeden Raum,
mal bin ich Albtraum, mal ein süßer Traum.
Man folgt mir mit der Nase, ob gut ich bin, ob schlecht.

Was bin ich?

Lösung: der Geruch

Translation:
I have no voice, yet I can tell you much,
whether roses bloom or garbage is a painful touch.
I have no form, yet I fill every space,
sometimes a nightmare, sometimes a sweet embrace.
You follow me with your nose, whether I'm good or bad.

What am I?

Solution: der Geruch (the smell)

🧩 Other Information

Word Formation:

The word "Geruch" is derived from the verb "riechen" (to smell). The prefix "Ge-", as often with nouns, forms a collective term or indicates the result of an action (the act of smelling leads to the smell/Geruch).

Interesting Facts:

• The human sense of smell (der Geruchssinn) can distinguish thousands of different smells.
• Smells are strongly linked to emotions and memories (Proust effect).