das Gehölz
thicket
A group or stand of trees and shrubs, usually smaller than a forest.
EXAMPLE
Hinter dem Feld beginnt ein dichtes Gehölz.
A dense thicket begins behind the field.
das Gehölz
woody plant / thicket
das Gehölz, die Gehölze
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Meanings
das Gehölz
woody plant
An individual woody plant, that is, a tree or shrub.
EXAMPLE
Für den neuen Garten kaufte sie mehrere winterharte Gehölze.
She bought several hardy woody plants for the new garden.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Gehölz, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Gehölze |
| genitive | des Gehölzes |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Gehölz | die Gehölze |
| accusative | das Gehölz | die Gehölze |
| dative | dem Gehölz | den Gehölzen |
| genitive | des Gehölzes | der Gehölze |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clues
In location phrases such as „hinter dem Gehölz“ (behind the thicket), a stand consisting of several plants is usually meant. In connection with numbers or information about plant selection, however, „Gehölz“ often refers to individual plants.
EXAMPLE
Hinter dem Gehölz liegt ein kleiner Teich.
A small pond lies behind the thicket.
Für den Vorgarten bestellten wir drei blühende Gehölze.
We ordered three flowering woody plants for the front garden.
Typical collocations
Common expressions include „sich im Gehölz verstecken“ (to hide in the thicket) and „im Gehölz verschwinden“ (to disappear into the thicket). In these expressions, the thicket is portrayed as shelter or as an obstacle to the view.
EXAMPLE
Das Reh verschwand im Gehölz, bevor wir ein Foto machen konnten.
The deer disappeared into the thicket before we could take a photo.
Typical collocations
For active use, „Gehölze pflanzen“ (to plant woody plants), „Gehölze zurückschneiden“ (to prune woody plants), and „Gehölze umpflanzen“ (to transplant woody plants) are useful. You will encounter these expressions especially in gardening instructions.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen die Gehölze zurückschneiden, damit der Gartenweg frei bleibt.
We need to prune the woody plants so that the garden path remains clear.
Technical usage
„Gehölz“ is used especially in horticulture and botany to refer to individual plants. Plant catalogs often list properties such as „immergrün“ (evergreen), „winterhart“ (hardy), or „langsam wachsend“ (slow-growing).
EXAMPLE
Laut Katalog eignet sich dieses immergrüne Gehölz auch für schattige Standorte.
According to the catalog, this evergreen woody plant is also suitable for shady locations.
In real life
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