der  Gruß

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ɡʁʊs/

👋 What does "der Gruß" mean?

The German noun Gruß (masculine, article "der") refers to a gesture, word, or action used to greet or say goodbye to someone. It's a form of social interaction to establish contact, show respect, or maintain a relationship.

• Greeting: A "Hallo", a handshake (ein Händedruck), a nod (ein Kopfnicken) when meeting someone.
• Farewell: A "Tschüss", a wave (ein Winken) when leaving (although "Abschied" is more specific here).
• In writing: The salutation or closing formula in a letter or email ("Mit freundlichen Grüßen" - With friendly greetings/Sincerely).

There is only this one article for "Gruß". ⚠️ Be careful not to confuse it with the verb "grüßen" (to greet).

Article rules for der, die, and das

📐 Grammar of "der Gruß" in Detail

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

Example Sentences

1. Ein freundlicher Gruß am Morgen kann den Tag verbessern. (A friendly greeting in the morning can improve the day.)
2. Er antwortete nicht einmal auf den Gruß seines Nachbarn. (He didn't even respond to his neighbor's greeting.)
3. Die Herzlichkeit seines Grußes überraschte mich. (The warmth of his greeting surprised me.)
4. Mit einem letzten Gruß / Grüße verabschiedete er sich. (He said goodbye with a final greeting. - 'Grüße' in singular dative is archaic/poetic)
5. Bitte richte ihr meine Grüße aus! (Please give her my regards!)
6. Wir senden herzliche Grüße aus dem Urlaub. (We send warm greetings from our vacation.)

🗣️ How to Use "Gruß"

"Gruß" is used in many social situations, both formal and informal.

• Everyday life: A spoken greeting like "Hallo", "Guten Tag", or a nod. Example: Sein Gruß war kurz und bündig. (His greeting was short and sweet.)
• Correspondence: As part of the closing formula (Grußformel) at the end of letters or emails. Common examples are "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" (Sincerely/Yours faithfully), "Viele Grüße" (Best regards/Many greetings), "Liebe Grüße" (Kind regards/Love). Example: Vergiss den Gruß am Ende der E-Mail nicht. (Don't forget the greeting at the end of the email.)
• Passing on greetings: You can convey greetings from one person to another. Example: Richte bitte Grüße von mir an deine Eltern aus. (Please give my regards to your parents.)
• Official/Formal: An official greeting at events or ceremonies, often called a "Grußwort" (address of welcome). Example: Der Bürgermeister sprach ein kurzes Grußwort. (The mayor gave a short welcoming address.)

In the plural ("Grüße"), it is almost exclusively used for passed-on greetings or written closing formulas.

Comparison: While "Gruß" is the action or word itself, "Begrüßung" often refers to the entire act of welcoming someone.

🧠 Memory Aids for "der Gruß"

For the Article "der"

Imagine a strong man (der Mann) giving a firm handshake as a greeting (Gruß). This masculine gesture helps remember der Gruß. Or think: You have to gRow your social skills to give a proper Gruß; 'R' is prominent in 'deR'.

For the Meaning "Greeting"

A Gruß sounds a bit like "goose". Imagine a friendly goose nodding its head as a greeting whenever you pass by. A goose's Gruß.

🔄 Similar and Opposite Words for "Gruß"

⚠️ Note: "grüßen" is the verb (to greet), while "Gruß" is the noun (greeting). Don't mix them up!

😄 A Little Joke

Fragt der Lehrer: "Fritzchen, warum grüßt du mich heute nicht?"
The teacher asks: "Fritzchen, why aren't you greeting me today?"

Fritzchen: "Mein Papa hat gesagt, ich soll nicht mit Leuten reden, die mir ständig schlechte Noten geben!"
Fritzchen: "My dad said I shouldn't talk to people who constantly give me bad grades!"

📜 Poetic Words for Greeting

Ein kleiner Gruß, ein liebes Wort,
A little greeting, a kind word,
verbindet Menschen hier und dort.
Connects people here and there.
Ob Nicken, Winken, Händedruck,
Whether nod, wave, handshake,
zeigt Freundlichkeit Stück für Stück.
Shows kindness piece by piece.
Ein Gruß am Morgen, hell und klar,
A greeting in the morning, bright and clear,
macht oft den ganzen Tag wunderbar.
Often makes the whole day wonderful.
Drum spar nicht dran, sei stets bereit,
So don't hold back, always be ready,
für einen Gruß ist immer Zeit.
There's always time for a greeting.

🧩 Riddle Time

Ich kann gesprochen sein, genickt, gewinkt,
I can be spoken, nodded, waved,
am Briefesende man mich oft noch bringt.
At the end of a letter, I am often brought.
Mal bin ich kurz, mal bin ich lang,
Sometimes I'm short, sometimes I'm long,
beginne manchen neuen Strang.
I start many a new strand (of conversation/connection).

Was bin ich? / What am I? Lösung / Solution: Der Gruß (The Greeting)

💡 More About Gruß

• Word Origin: "Gruß" comes from the Old High German word "gruoz", which originally meant "address" or "call". It is closely related to the verb "grüßen" (to greet).
• Cultural Differences: Greetings vary greatly worldwide (bowing in Japan, cheek kisses in France, handshakes in Germany).
• Common Phrases:
  • "Schöne Grüße bestellen/ausrichten": To ask someone to pass on greetings.
  • "Mit freundlichen Grüßen" (MfG): Standard formal closing in letters (Sincerely/Yours faithfully).
  • "Viele Grüße" (VG) / "Liebe Grüße" (LG): Common in informal emails or letters (Best regards/Kind regards/Love).