der  Grundriss

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈɡʁʊntʁɪs/

🗺️ What exactly is a 'Grundriss'?

Der Grundriss (masculine) primarily means the floor plan or layout of a building or room, represented as a drawing from a top-down perspective, as if looking down after removing the roof. It shows the arrangement of walls, doors, windows, and often furniture.

Figuratively, der Grundriss can also refer to a schematic representation, a sketch, an outline, or the basic structure of something (e.g., der Grundriss eines Romans - the outline of a novel).

📐 Grammar: 'Der Grundriss' in Detail

The noun 'Grundriss' is masculine. Its declension is as follows:

Example Sentences

1. Der Architekt präsentierte den Grundriss des neuen Hauses. (The architect presented the floor plan of the new house.)
2. Auf dem Grundriss kann man die Raumaufteilung gut erkennen. (On the floor plan, you can clearly see the room layout.)
3. Wir benötigen mehrere Kopien des Grundrisses. (We need several copies of the floor plan.)
4. Der Grundriss der Erzählung war klar strukturiert. (The outline of the story was clearly structured.)

✏️ How to Use 'Grundriss'

Der Grundriss is mainly used in the context of architecture, construction, real estate, and interior design. When talking about plans for a building, 'Grundriss' is the specific word for the horizontal, top-down view.

• Architecture/Construction: 'Wir müssen den Grundriss ändern, um ein größeres Bad zu ermöglichen.' ('We need to change the floor plan to allow for a larger bathroom.')
• Real Estate: 'Ist der Grundriss in der Wohnungsanzeige aktuell?' ('Is the floor plan in the apartment listing up to date?')
• Design: 'Der Grundriss zeigt auch Vorschläge zur Möblierung.' ('The floor plan also shows suggestions for furnishing.')
• Figurative: 'Können Sie mir den Grundriss Ihrer Argumentation skizzieren?' ('Can you outline the structure of your argument for me?')

Don't confuse 'Grundriss' (floor plan/top view) with 'Aufriss' (elevation/front view) or 'Schnitt' (cross-section).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

Here are some memory aids for 'der Grundriss':

• Article 'der': Imagine DER Architect (masculine) drawing the plan. Or think: The plan is for the GROUND (der Grund - masculine) and includes every CREASE (der Riss - sounds similar, also masculine metaphorically for 'plan'). So it's der Grundriss.
• Meaning (Plan): Think of the GROUND a house stands on. The RISS (here meaning 'drawing' or 'plan' from technical drawing term 'reißen' - to draw lines) shows this ground from above. A Grund-Riss is the drawing of the ground level.

↔️ Similar and Contrasting Terms

⚠️ Caution: Although 'Plan' is often used synonymously, 'Grundriss' is specifically the top-down floor plan of a building.

😂 A Little Construction Joke

Fragt der Bauherr den Architekten: "Ist dieser Grundriss wirklich endgültig?"
Sagt der Architekt: "Nein, keine Sorge, wir können später immer noch Wände einreißen – das kostet dann nur extra!"

(Client asks the architect: "Is this floor plan really final?"
Architect replies: "No, don't worry, we can always tear down walls later – it just costs extra!")

📜 A Poem About the Plan

Der Grundriss, auf Papier gebannt,
Zeigt Wände, Türen, Hand in Hand.
Ein Raum entsteht, noch ungelebt,
Wo später Lachen, Leben schwebt.
Von oben schaut man auf das Werk,
Des Architekten starker Berg.
Der Plan, die Basis, klar und schlicht,
Bevor der erste Stein anbricht.

(The floor plan, captured on paper,
Shows walls and doors, hand in hand ever.
A room emerges, yet unlived,
Where later laughter, life is gived.
From above, one views the creation,
The architect's strong foundation.
The plan, the base, clear and plain,
Before the first stone starts its reign.)

❓ Who am I? A Riddle

Ich zeige dir ein Haus von oben,
ganz ohne Dach, das sei erhoben.
Ich bin gezeichnet, nicht gebaut,
hab Wände, doch kein Fenster schaut.
Der Architekt braucht mich genau,
für jeden Raum beim Hausbau.

Wer bin ich?
... Der Grundriss

(I show you a house from above,
entirely without a roof, way up high it's wove.
I am drawn, not built by hand,
I have walls, but no windows scan the land.
The architect needs me precisely,
for every room when building nicely.

Who am I?
... The floor plan (Der Grundriss))

🧩 More Word Details

Word Composition:

The word 'Grundriss' is a compound noun, formed from:

• Grund: Means 'ground', 'base', or 'foundation' here.
• Riss: Means 'drawing' or 'plan' in this context, derived from the technical drawing term 'reißen' (to draw lines, to tear/rip, but here in the sense of drafting).

So, it literally describes a 'drawing of the ground/base'.