das Geräusch
noise / sound
An audible acoustic impression; a tone or sound that is often vague or not clearly identifiable.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe ein seltsames Geräusch aus der Küche gehört.
I heard a strange noise coming from the kitchen.
das Geräusch
noise / sound
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Geräusch' (noise/sound) is related to the verb 'rauschen' (to rustle/rush). The prefix 'Ge-' forms a noun here that describes a single or undefined sound event.
EXAMPLE
Das Rauschen der Blätter wurde von einem lauten Geräusch unterbrochen.
The rustling of the leaves was interrupted by a loud noise.
Typical verbs
Common verbs used with 'Geräusch' (noise/sound) are 'ein Geräusch machen' (to make a noise), 'ein Geräusch hören' (to hear a noise), and 'ein Geräusch verursachen' (to cause a noise).
EXAMPLE
Bitte mach keine lauten Geräusche, das Baby schläft.
Please don't make any loud noises; the baby is sleeping.
Typical adjectives
To describe a 'Geräusch' (noise/sound), adjectives such as 'laut' (loud), 'leise' (quiet), 'plötzlich' (sudden), 'seltsam' (strange), or 'unbekannt' (unknown) are often used.
EXAMPLE
In der alten Villa hörte man nachts oft seltsame Geräusche.
In the old villa, people often heard strange noises at night.
Source of the noise
To indicate the source of a 'Geräusch' (noise/sound), the prepositions 'aus' (from/out of) or 'von' (from) are usually used. For example, 'ein Geräusch aus der Küche' (a noise from the kitchen) or 'ein Geräusch von der Straße' (a noise from the street).
EXAMPLE
Das Geräusch kam vom Dachboden.
The noise came from the attic.
Compare with
Geräusch vs laut
loud / according to
Laut and das Geräusch can both describe an audible situation, but laut says something about volume. Das Geräusch, by contrast, refers to the acoustic impression itself, often without clearly identifying its source. Use laut for the intensity and Geräusch for naming what you hear.
Geräusch
Der Hund bellte, und im Flur war plötzlich ein unbekanntes Geräusch zu hören.
The dog barked, and suddenly there was an unfamiliar noise in the hallway.
laut
Der Hund bellte laut, als jemand an der Tür klingelte.
The dog barked loudly when someone rang the doorbell.
In real life
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