der  Sturz

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ʃtʊrts/

🤸 What does "der Sturz" mean?

The noun der Sturz (masculine) has several meanings, often relating to a sudden, rapid fall or drop:

• Physical fall: A person or animal falling down. 🤕
  Example: Der alte Mann erlitt einen schweren Sturz auf der Treppe. (The old man suffered a bad fall on the stairs.)
• Rapid drop/crash: A sudden, sharp decrease in values, prices, temperature, etc. 📉
  Example: Der unerwartete Sturz der Aktienkurse beunruhigte die Anleger. (The unexpected crash of stock prices worried the investors.)
• Overthrow/downfall: The sudden end of a rule, government, or position of power. 🏛️
  Example: Der Sturz des Diktators wurde vom Volk gefeiert. (The overthrow of the dictator was celebrated by the people.)
• Architecture (lintel): The upper, load-bearing part of an opening in a wall (window, door). 🧱
  Example: Der Sturz über dem Eingang war kunstvoll verziert. (The lintel above the entrance was artfully decorated.)

🚨 Although "Fall" (fall) is often used synonymously, "Sturz" usually emphasizes the suddenness, severity, or uncontrolled nature of the event.

📊 Grammar in Detail: Der Sturz

The word "Sturz" is a masculine noun. Here are the declension tables:

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📌 Note: The Dative Singular can also take the older form "Sturze", but "Sturz" is more common today.

Example Sentences

1. Nach dem Sturz vom Fahrrad hatte er Schürfwunden.
   (After the fall from the bike, he had grazes.)
2. Der plötzliche Sturz der Temperatur überraschte alle.
   (The sudden drop in temperature surprised everyone.)
3. Der Film handelt vom Sturz eines korrupten Ministers.
   (The film is about the downfall of a corrupt minister.)
4. Man maß die Höhe des Sturzes über dem Fenster.
   (They measured the height of the lintel above the window.)
5. Die Wirtschaft erlebte mehrere Stürze innerhalb eines Jahres.
   (The economy experienced several crashes within one year.)

💡 How to use "der Sturz"?

"Der Sturz" is used specifically depending on the context:

• Medicine/Everyday life: Often in connection with accidents and injuries (e.g., Treppensturz - fall on stairs, Sturzprophylaxe - fall prevention).
• Economy/Finance: Describing market slumps (e.g., Kurssturz - price crash, Preissturz - price drop).
• Politics/History: Denoting the end of governments or regimes (e.g., Regierungssturz - overthrow of government, Sturz der Monarchie - fall of the monarchy).
• Meteorology: Sudden drop in temperature or air pressure (e.g., Temperatursturz - temperature drop).
• Architecture: Technical term for a structural element (Fenstersturz - window lintel, Türsturz - door lintel).

Distinction from similar words:

• Fall: More general term for falling or sinking. "Sturz" is often more dramatic or sudden. A Fall can also be a legal case (ein juristischer Fall), whereas a Sturz cannot.
• Absturz: Often even more severe than a Sturz, commonly used for planes (Flugzeugabsturz), computers (Computerabsturz), or people falling from a great height.
• Umsturz: Primarily refers to political or social upheaval, the overthrow of an order.

🧠 Mnemonics for "der Sturz"

Article Mnemonic (der): Think of things that might fall dramatically often being grammatically masculine in German, like DER Mann (the man), DER Baum (the tree), DER Fels (the rock) - DER Sturz.

Meaning Mnemonic: "Sturz" sounds a bit like something *starts* to fall suddenly, or like the sharp sound it might make hitting the ground. Imagine something *starting* its rapid descent - a Sturz.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for "der Sturz"

⚠️ Similar Words (Potential for Confusion):

• Stürze (die): Plural of Sturz.
• stürzen (verb): The act of falling, overthrowing, etc.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum nehmen Skelette nie an einem Wettrennen teil?

(Why do skeletons never take part in a race?)

Weil sie Angst vor dem Sturz über die Ziellinie haben und in ihre Einzelteile zerfallen!

(Because they're afraid of the fall over the finish line and falling apart into their individual pieces! 🦴)

✒️ Poem about the Sturz

Ein jäher Sturz, ein schneller Fall,
(A sudden plunge, a rapid fall,)
Ob Mensch, ob Preis, ob Fels im All.
(Be it man, or price, or rock in space.)
Die Schwerkraft zieht, das Schicksal lenkt,
(Gravity pulls, fate directs,)
Ein Augenblick, der alles schenkt –
(A moment that gives everything –)
An Schmerz, Verlust, an Neubeginn,
(Pain, loss, or a new beginning,)
Der Sturz trägt tiefen Wandel inn.
(The fall carries deep change within.)

❓ Riddle

Ich komme plötzlich, ohne Schall,
(I come suddenly, without a sound,)
bin mal Person-, mal Preisverfall.
(I'm sometimes a person's fall, sometimes a price drop found.)
Regierungen bring ich oft zu Fall,
(I often bring governments down,)
manchmal bin ich nur ein Teil vom Bau am Wall.
(Sometimes I'm just part of a building all around.)

Was bin ich? / What am I?

Lösung / Answer: der Sturz

🧐 Additional Information

Word Composition:

The noun "der Sturz" derives from the verb "stürzen" (to fall, to plunge, to overthrow). There are many compound words specifying the type of fall:

• Treppensturz: Fall on stairs
• Kurssturz: Stock market crash
• Regierungssturz: Overthrow of government
• Temperatursturz: Sudden drop in temperature
• Fenstersturz / Türsturz: Window lintel / Door lintel

Trivia: Der "Prager Fenstersturz" (The Defenestration of Prague) in 1618 was a historical event where imperial governors were thrown out of a window of Prague Castle. This event is considered a trigger for the Thirty Years' War. It connects the literal meaning (fall from a window) with the political one (start of an upheaval/conflict).