der  Ruf

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʁuːf/

🗣️ What does 'der Ruf' actually mean?

The German noun der Ruf (masculine) has several meanings:

• Call, shout: The act of calling or an audible sound meant to attract attention. Example: Ein lauter Ruf hallte durch den Wald. (A loud call echoed through the forest.)
• Reputation, standing: The opinion others have about a person or thing; the image or repute. Example: Er hat einen ausgezeichneten Ruf als Arzt. (He has an excellent reputation as a doctor.)
• Calling, vocation (less common, often in compounds): An inner urge or destiny towards a specific activity or way of life. Example: Dem Ruf seines Herzens folgen. (To follow the call of one's heart.) Often in words like Berufsruf (professional calling).
• Telephone call (rarer, usually 'Anruf'): Although 'Anruf' is more common, 'Ruf' can sometimes mean a telephone call, especially in older language or specific contexts. Example: Ich erwarte einen Ruf aus Berlin. (I'm expecting a call from Berlin.)

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

📊 Grammar of 'der Ruf' at a Glance

Der Ruf is a masculine noun. It declines as follows:

Declension Singular

Note: The endings -(e)s in the Genitive and -(e) in the Dative are often optional, with the shorter form (Rufs, Ruf) being more common.

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

1. Meaning 'Call/Shout': Der laute Ruf des Muezzins weckte die Stadt. (The loud call of the muezzin woke the city.)
2. Meaning 'Reputation': Diese Firma genießt einen exzellenten Ruf. (This company enjoys an excellent reputation.)
3. Meaning 'Reputation': Sein guter Ruf eilt ihm voraus. (His good reputation precedes him.)
4. Meaning 'Calling': Er folgte dem Ruf der Wildnis. (He followed the call of the wild.)
5. Idiomatic: Er steht in dem Ruf, sehr zuverlässig zu sein. (He has the reputation of being very reliable.)

💡 How is 'der Ruf' used?

The usage of der Ruf strongly depends on its meaning:

• As a call/shout: Often used with adjectives like laut (loud), leise (quiet), fern (distant), nah (near). E.g.: ein verzweifelter Ruf nach Hilfe (a desperate call for help).
• As reputation: Very common with adjectives like gut (good), schlecht (bad), exzellent (excellent), zweifelhaft (doubtful), legendär (legendary). One can einen Ruf haben (have), genießen (enjoy), verlieren (lose), verteidigen (defend), ruinieren (ruin) a reputation. Idioms are common: "ein guter Ruf ist Gold wert" ("a good reputation is worth its weight in gold"), "etwas in Verruf bringen" (to bring something into disrepute).
• As a calling: More elevated or poetic language. E.g.: dem Ruf des Abenteuers folgen (to follow the call of adventure), der Ruf der Pflicht (the call of duty).
• As a telephone call: Mostly replaced by der Anruf today. You might rarely hear it, e.g., "einen Ruf absetzen" (rarely used for 'to make a call').

Comparison:

• Ruf vs. Anruf: For telephone calls, Anruf is standard.
• Ruf vs. Schrei: A Schrei (scream, shout) is usually louder, more emotional, and less articulated than a Ruf.
• Ruf vs. Ansehen/Image: Ansehen (standing, esteem) is similar to Ruf (reputation), but often emphasizes the respect someone enjoys more. Image is a more modern loanword, often used in marketing.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Ruf'

Article Mnemonic (der): Imagine a guy ('der Mann') who lets out a loud 'ROOF!' (sounds like Ruf) – that's his call. Or think: The Rude fellow derided my reputation.

Meaning Mnemonic (Call & Reputation): If you give a loud call ('Ruf'), it might affect your reputation ('Ruf'). Yelling 'ROOF!' in public might give you a bad 'Ruf'!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for 'der Ruf'

⚠️ Similar Sounding Words:

• der Rüffel: A telling-off, reprimand. Sounds similar, different meaning.
• die Raufe: A hayrack for animals.

😄 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Wecker so einen schlechten Ruf?
Weil er immer alle aus den schönsten Träumen ruft!

Why does the alarm clock have such a bad reputation?
Because it always calls everyone out of their sweetest dreams!

📜 Poem about 'der Ruf'

Ein leiser Ruf im Morgenwind,
Ein lauter, der durch Gassen klingt.
Ein guter Ruf, wie pures Gold,
Ein schlechter, der dich schnell einholt.
Ob Schrei, ob Anseh'n, hoch und hehr,
Der Ruf bedeutet oft so viel mehr.

A quiet call in morning breeze,
A loud one sounding through the streets with ease.
A good reputation, like pure gold,
A bad one quickly takes its hold.
Be it shout or standing, high and grand,
Der Ruf often means more across the land.

❓ Riddle

Ich kann laut sein oder leise,
Reise oft auf unsichtbare Weise.
Man kann mich haben, gut und schlecht,
Verliert man mich, ist's oft nicht recht.
Man hört mich, doch ich hab' kein Mund,
Ich mach' Personen oder Firmen kund.

Was bin ich?

I can be loud or quiet,
Often travel in an unseen way.
You can have me, good and bad,
Losing me is often sad.
You hear me, though I have no mouth,
I make people or companies known, north to south.

What am I?
(Solution: der Ruf - the call / the reputation)

🧐 Additional Information

Word Origin: The noun 'der Ruf' comes from the verb rufen, which existed in Old High German as 'ruofan' and meant 'to shout, call, name'.

Compound Words: 'Ruf' is part of many compound words, often carrying the meaning 'reputation' or 'signal':

• der Rufmord: Lit. 'reputation murder' - defamation, slander.
• der Notruf: Emergency call (e.g., 911, 112).
• der Weckruf: Wake-up call (literal or figurative).
• der Lockruf: A call to lure someone or something (e.g., bird call, siren call).
• der Berufsruf: Professional calling/vocation.