groß
big / large
Describes above-average physical extent, height, or area.
EXAMPLE
Der Elefant ist ein sehr großes Tier.
The elephant is a very large animal.
groß
big / great
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
groß
great
Indicates high significance, importance, or quality.
EXAMPLE
Marie Curie war eine große Wissenschaftlerin.
Marie Curie was a great scientist.
groß
great / intense
Describes a high intensity or strong degree of a feeling or state.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe große Angst vor Spinnen.
I have a great fear of spiders.
groß
older / grown-up
Refers to an advanced age or to being grown up.
EXAMPLE
Mein großer Bruder ist schon ausgezogen.
My older brother has already moved out.
im Großen und Ganzen
by and large
An idiom that means 'overall' or 'essentially'.
EXAMPLE
Im Großen und Ganzen war das Projekt ein Erfolg.
By and large, the project was a success.
groß
the Great
As part of a historical epithet for important rulers.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierungszeit von Friedrich dem Großen prägte Preußen.
The reign of Frederick the Great shaped Prussia.
Usage tips
Capitalization
As an adjective, 'groß' (big) is written with a lowercase letter. But when it is used as a noun (often after 'etwas' (something), 'nichts' (nothing), 'alles' (everything)), it is capitalized. This rule is important for correct spelling.
EXAMPLE
Das ist ein wirklich großes Haus.
That is a really big house.
Word family
'Groß' (big) is a basic word for many other German words. If you recognize 'groß', you can often understand the meaning of words like 'die Größe' (size), 'vergrößern' (to enlarge), or 'Großeltern' (grandparents) more easily.
EXAMPLE
Können Sie das Bild bitte etwas vergrößern?
Could you please enlarge the picture a little?
Context clue
The literal meaning 'groß' (big) refers to the physical size of objects or people. In figurative meanings, it describes importance, intensity, or age, which becomes clear from the context.
EXAMPLE
Ein großer Baum spendet viel Schatten.
A big tree provides a lot of shade.
Typical collocations
To express importance or quality, 'groß' (great) is often combined with abstract nouns. Typical phrases are 'ein großer Erfolg' (a great success), 'eine große Ehre' (a great honor), or 'ein großer Unterschied' (a big difference).
EXAMPLE
Seine Erfindung hat einen großen Unterschied gemacht.
His invention made a big difference.
Feelings and states
To describe the intensity of a feeling or state, 'groß' (great/big) is used frequently. Typical combinations are 'großen Hunger haben' (to be very hungry), 'in großer Eile sein' (to be in a great hurry), or 'große Freude empfinden' (to feel great joy).
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Wanderung hatte ich großen Hunger.
After the long hike, I was very hungry.
Use in family contexts
In the context of family and age, 'groß' (older) is used to distinguish older siblings from younger ones. It then stands directly before the noun.
EXAMPLE
Meine große Schwester studiert in Berlin.
My older sister is studying in Berlin.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'im Großen und Ganzen' (by and large) is a fixed unit. It often stands at the beginning of a sentence and means 'considered as a whole'.
EXAMPLE
Im Großen und Ganzen bin ich mit dem Ergebnis zufrieden.
By and large, I am satisfied with the result.
Compare with
groß vs wichtig
important
Groß and wichtig can both express a high level of significance. Groß sounds more evaluative and can also emphasize special quality or scope, whereas wichtig refers more specifically to relevance for something. Groß is therefore more suitable for personal appreciation, while wichtig is more suitable for a necessary decision.
groß
Ihre Hilfe bei der Rettung war für die Familie eine große Leistung.
Her help in the rescue was a great achievement for the family.
wichtig
Ihre Hilfe bei der Rettung war für die Familie sehr wichtig.
Her help in the rescue was very important to the family.
In real life
Loading video examples...