gründen
to found
To bring something new into being, especially a company, an organization, a city, or a family.
EXAMPLE
Sie plant, nächstes Jahr ihr eigenes Unternehmen zu gründen.
She plans to found her own company next year.
gründen
to found / be based on
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Meanings
sich gründen auf
to be based on
To be based or founded on a particular basis, idea, fact, or assumption.
EXAMPLE
Sein Verdacht gründet sich nur auf ein vages Gefühl.
His suspicion is based only on a vague feeling.
gründen
to run aground
In seafaring: for a ship to touch the bottom of a body of water and become stuck as a result.
EXAMPLE
Bei Ebbe ist das Schiff auf einer Sandbank gegründet.
At low tide, the ship ran aground on a sandbank.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'gründen' (to found / be based on) is closely related to the noun 'der Grund' (the reason; the ground). This connection helps explain the meanings: you lay the 'Grundstein' (foundation stone) for a company (gründen = to found), an opinion is based on a 'Grund' (reason) (sich gründen auf = to be based on), or a ship touches the 'Meeresgrund' (seabed) (gründen = to run aground).
EXAMPLE
Der Erfolg der Firma gründet auf einer einfachen, aber genialen Idee.
The company's success is based on a simple but brilliant idea.
Typical collocations
In its most common meaning, 'gründen' is combined with things that one brings newly into being. Typical examples are: eine Firma gründen (to found a company), einen Verein gründen (to found an association/club), eine Familie gründen (to start a family), or eine Organisation gründen (to found an organization).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Studium wollen sie eine Familie gründen.
After their studies, they want to start a family.
Sentence structure
In the meaning 'basieren auf' (to be based on), the verb is always reflexive and is used with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. The structure is: Etwas gründet sich auf etwas (something is based on something).
EXAMPLE
Ihre Anklage gründet sich auf Zeugenaussagen.
Her accusation is based on witness statements.
Register
The meaning 'mit dem Schiff auf Grund laufen' (to run aground with a ship) is technical language from seafaring. You hear or read this word only in this specific context.
EXAMPLE
Der Kapitän musste melden, dass sein Schiff im flachen Wasser gegründet war.
The captain had to report that his ship had run aground in shallow water.
Compare with
gründen vs bilden
to form / educate
Gründen refers to bringing a new, usually long-lasting organization or institution into existence. Bilden, by contrast, emphasizes people or parts coming together to form a specific group or unit. Thus, one might gründet a club, while its members bilden a board.
gründen
Die Anwohner gründen einen Verein für den Schutz des alten Parks.
The local residents are founding a club to protect the old park.
bilden
Die Mitglieder des neuen Vereins bilden einen Vorstand für die weitere Arbeit.
The members of the new club are forming a board to carry out its work.
In real life
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