der  Wurf

A2

Estimated CEFR level.

/vʊʁf/

🎯 What exactly is 'der Wurf'?

The noun der Wurf (masculine) has several meanings:

• The act of throwing: This is the most common meaning, e.g., in sports (Ballwurf, Speerwurf - ball throw, javelin throw) or everyday life. Example: Sein Wurf war sehr präzise. (His throw was very precise.)
• A litter of animals: For animals, der Wurf refers to all offspring born at the same time. Example: Der erste Wurf der Katze bestand aus fünf Kätzchen. (The cat's first litter consisted of five kittens.) 🐾
• The result of rolling dice: The number shown on the dice after throwing them. Example: Beim letzten Wurf hatte ich eine Sechs. (On the last roll/throw, I got a six.) 🎲
• (Less common) A quick draft or sketch: Especially in architecture or design, a first rough draft can be called a Wurf.
• (Geology) Fault: A fracture or zone of fractures between two blocks of rock (Verwerfung in modern German).

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

📝 Grammar of 'der Wurf' in Detail

Der Wurf is a masculine noun. Its plural form is die Würfe.

Example Sentences

1. Der Basketballspieler übte seinen Wurf stundenlang.
   (The basketball player practiced his throw for hours.)
2. Die Hündin kümmerte sich liebevoll um ihren ersten Wurf.
   (The female dog lovingly cared for her first litter.)
3. Mit diesem Wurf hat er das Spiel gewonnen!
   (With this roll/throw, he won the game!)
4. Der Architekt zeigte einen ersten Wurf des Gebäudes.
   (The architect showed a first draft/sketch of the building.)

💡 Usage in Context

The use of der Wurf depends heavily on its meaning:

• Sports/Everyday (Throwing): Here, it describes the action itself or the result. People talk about a guter Wurf (good throw), weiter Wurf (long throw), Fehlwurf (missed throw). Related words include the verb werfen (to throw) and nouns like Wurfbewegung (throwing motion) or Wurfgeschoss (projectile). It's more specific than der Schuss (the shot), which can also refer to firearms.
• Animals (Litter): Used for mammals that give birth to multiple young at once (dogs, cats, pigs, etc.). People refer to the erster Wurf (first litter), letzter Wurf (last litter), starker Wurf (large litter).
• Games (Dice Roll): Refers to the outcome of rolling dice in board games or games of chance. Typical phrases are ein glücklicher Wurf (a lucky roll/throw), der entscheidende Wurf (the decisive roll/throw).
• Design/Architecture (Draft): Less common, often colloquial for a quick, rough sketch. The word der Entwurf (the draft, design) is more common and formal here.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Wurf'

Article Mnemonic: Think of der Ball (the ball), der Speer (the javelin), der Stein (the stone) – things you throw. This helps remember der Wurf.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine someone making a Wurf (throw - meaning 1) with a ball over a fence, where a Wurf (litter - meaning 2) of puppies is playing, while nearby someone wins at dice with a lucky Wurf (roll/throw - meaning 3). It's a versatile word!

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but Different Words

• Der Entwurf: Means a planned sketch or concept, often more detailed than a 'Wurf' in this sense.
• Die Verwerfung: The technical geological term for a fault, whereas 'Wurf' is an archaic or regional secondary meaning in this context.

😂 A Little Throwing Joke

Warum hat der Diskuswerfer aufgehört?
Er fand den Job zu eintönig – immer der gleiche Wurf ins Blaue!

Translation:
Why did the discus thrower quit?
He found the job too monotonous – always the same throw into the blue! (A 'Wurf ins Blaue' also means 'a shot in the dark' or 'a leap into the unknown'.)

📜 A Poem about 'der Wurf'

Ein Ball fliegt hoch, ein kühner Wurf,
Durch blaue Luft, ein kurzer Hupf.
Im Korb, im Tor, im Feld, im Sand,
Gelandet durch geschickte Hand.

Im Nest, da piept ein neuer Wurf,
So klein, so zart, ein Lebensschlurf.
Die Mutter wacht mit sanftem Blick,
Beschützt ihr junges, pures Glück.

Translation:

A ball flies high, a daring throw,
Through blue air, a short little go.
In basket, goal, in field, in sand,
Landed by a skilful hand.

In the nest, a new litter chirps low,
So small, so tender, life's soft flow.
The mother watches with gentle gaze,
Protects her young, pure happy haze.

❓ Riddle Time

Ich bin mal ein Zeichen von Kraft im Sport,
Mal bring' ich neues Leben an einen Ort.
Beim Spiel entscheid' ich oft über Glück,
Was bin ich, sag's mir Stück für Stück?

Translation:
Sometimes I'm a sign of strength in sport,
Sometimes I bring new life to a place of sort.
In games, I often decide luck's decree,
What am I? Tell me, piece by piece for me.

Solution: Der Wurf (the throw / the litter / the roll)

🧩 Further Information

Word Composition: The word Wurf is closely related to the verb werfen (to throw). It is a nominalization of the action.

Compound Words (Examples):

• Sports: Weitwurf (long throw), Diskuswurf (discus throw), Speerwurf (javelin throw), Hammerwurf (hammer throw), Freiwurf (free throw), Strafwurf (penalty throw)
• Animals: Katzenwurf (litter of kittens), Hundewurf (litter of puppies), Ferkelwurf (litter of piglets)
• Other: Einwurf (slot for mail; throw-in in football), Vorwurf (accusation, reproach)