das Grauen
horror
A strong feeling of fear and terror, often combined with disgust at something terrible.
EXAMPLE
Beim Anblick der verstümmelten Leichen packte ihn das Grauen.
At the sight of the mutilated corpses, horror seized him.
das Grauen
horror / dawn
das Grauen
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Meanings
das Grauen
dawn
The gradual brightening in the early morning. This usage is elevated or poetic.
EXAMPLE
Im ersten Grauen des Morgens brachen die Wanderer auf.
The hikers set off at the first light of dawn.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Grauen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Grauens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Grauen | – |
| accusative | das Grauen | – |
| dative | dem Grauen | – |
| genitive | des Grauens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
With 'das Grauen' (horror), the words accompanying it in the sentence can help. Words such as 'packen' (to seize), 'empfinden' (to feel), or 'erstarren' (to freeze) point to fear and terror. If 'Morgen' (morning), 'Dämmerung' (dawn), or 'aufbrechen' (to set off) appear nearby, it refers to the early brightening of the sky.
EXAMPLE
Beim Öffnen der alten Tür überkam sie das Grauen.
When she opened the old door, horror overcame her.
Im Grauen des Morgens machten sich die Fischer auf den Weg.
At dawn, the fishermen set off.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'fear and terror', 'das Grauen' (horror) frequently appears with verbs such as 'packen' (to seize), 'überkommen' (to overcome), and 'empfinden' (to feel). The fixed expression 'vor Grauen erstarren' (to freeze with horror) is also common.
EXAMPLE
Beim Anblick des verlassenen Hauses packte ihn das Grauen.
At the sight of the abandoned house, horror seized him.
Fixed expression
The meaning 'early brightening' occurs especially often in the expression 'im ersten Grauen des Morgens' (at the first light of dawn). This usage is figurative and belongs more to elevated or poetic language.
EXAMPLE
Im ersten Grauen des Morgens verließen die Reisenden das Dorf.
At the first light of dawn, the travelers left the village.
In real life
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