01
das Gedränge
crowd / crush
A large crowd of people standing so close together that it is difficult to move.
example
Im Gedränge auf dem Weihnachtsmarkt habe ich meine Freunde verloren.
In the crush at the Christmas market, I lost my friends.
das Gedränge
crowd / crush
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word formation
'Das Gedränge' (crowd/crush) is derived from the verb 'drängen' (to push, press, shove). The prefix 'Ge-' forms a collective noun here that describes an intense, ongoing action or its result. The noun is neuter.
EXAMPLE
Das laute Rufen und Drängen der Menschenmenge war unangenehm.
The loud shouting and pushing of the crowd was unpleasant.
Use in a sentence
The word is often used with the preposition 'in'. You can be 'im Gedränge' (in the crowd/crush; dative, state) or 'ins Gedränge geraten' (to get caught in the crowd/crush; accusative, movement/change).
EXAMPLE
Pass im Gedränge gut auf deine Tasche auf!
Watch your bag carefully in the crowd!
Uncountable noun
'Gedränge' (crowd/crush) describes an indefinite mass and is therefore treated as an uncountable noun. It is almost always used in the singular and often with adjectives like 'dicht' (dense/crowded) or 'groß' (large).
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Konzert herrschte ein dichtes Gedränge.
There was a dense crowd at the concert.
Compare with
Gedränge vs Getriebe
gearbox / bustle
'das Getriebe' and 'das Gedränge' can both describe situations with many people. 'Getriebe' mainly means lively, often hectic movement and activity. People are moving around a lot, but they do not necessarily have to be standing close together. 'Gedränge', on the other hand, means a dense crowd in which it is difficult to move. The words can be confused because both make you think of crowded places. When it is about crampedness and pushing, 'Gedränge' is more precise. When it is about general restlessness and a lot of movement, 'Getriebe' fits.
Gedränge
Im Gedränge vor der Bühne hielt Selma ihre Tasche fest.
In the crush in front of the stage, Selma held on tightly to her bag.
Getriebe
Auf dem Markt begann schon früh das laute Getriebe der Händler und Kunden.
At the market, the loud bustle of vendors and customers began early.
In real life
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