grüßen
to greet
To give someone a sign of greeting when meeting them, for example through words, a nod, or a wave.
EXAMPLE
Sie grüßte ihre Nachbarin mit einem freundlichen „Guten Morgen“.
She greeted her neighbor with a friendly 'Good morning.'
grüßen
to greet
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Meanings
jemanden grüßen lassen
to send regards
To pass on greetings to someone from another person or ask someone to do so.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du deine Mutter siehst, lass sie bitte von mir grüßen.
If you see your mother, please give her my regards.
grüßen
to come into view
In elevated or poetic language, used for 'become visible' or 'appear'.
EXAMPLE
Schon von weitem grüßt der Kirchturm über den Dächern der Stadt.
From far away, the church tower already comes into view above the rooftops of the town.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'grüßen' (to greet) is closely connected to the noun 'der Gruß' (greeting). When you greet someone, you convey a greeting.
EXAMPLE
Bitte richte deiner Familie liebe Grüße von mir aus.
Please give my warm regards to your family.
Use with the accusative
When you greet someone directly, the person being greeted is always in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe ihn gestern auf der Straße gesehen, aber er hat mich nicht gegrüßt.
I saw him on the street yesterday, but he didn't greet me.
Having greetings passed on
To send greetings through another person, you use the construction with 'lassen' (to let/have) or an imperative form. A typical formulation is 'jemanden von jemandem grüßen lassen' (to give someone someone's regards).
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder lässt dich herzlich grüßen.
My brother sends you his warm regards.
Poetic use
This meaning is elevated or poetic. The subject here is not a person, but usually a distinctive object visible from far away, such as a tower, a castle, or a mountain.
EXAMPLE
Schon aus der Ferne grüßt der Leuchtturm an der Küste.
Even from a distance, the lighthouse on the coast comes into view.
Compare with
grüßen vs erscheinen
to appear
Both words can express something becoming visible in a poetic description. „Erscheinen“ is the neutral word for this, while „grüßen“ carries this meaning only in elevated or figurative language. „Erscheinen“ fits a normal description; in a deliberately poetic text, „grüßen“ can be used.
grüßen
Am Horizont grüßte in poetischer Sprache langsam der erste helle Streifen des Tages.
On the horizon, the first bright strip of daylight slowly greeted the waking world.
erscheinen
Am Horizont erschien langsam der erste helle Streifen des Tages.
The first bright strip of daylight slowly appeared on the horizon.
In real life
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