rauh
rough
Describing a surface that is not smooth, but uneven, grainy, or irregular. This is an outdated spelling of 'rau' (rough).
EXAMPLE
Die rauhe Zunge der Katze fühlte sich an wie Sandpapier.
The cat's rough tongue felt like sandpaper.
rauh
rough
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Meanings
rauh
harsh / rough
Unpleasant, harsh, or inhospitable. It can refer to a voice, the climate, the wind, or someone's tone.
EXAMPLE
An der Küste herrscht oft ein rauhes Klima.
The coast often has a harsh climate.
rauh
rough / approximate
Approximate, roughly estimated, and not exact or detailed.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe nur eine rauhe Vorstellung davon, wie viel die Reparatur kosten wird.
I only have a rough idea of how much the repair will cost.
Usage tips
Outdated spelling
The spelling 'rauh' is outdated. Since the German spelling reform of 1996, only the spelling 'rau' is correct. In modern texts, you should always use 'rau'.
EXAMPLE
Die Oberfläche des Steins ist sehr rau.
The surface of the stone is very rough.
Literal and figurative
The word can literally describe an uneven surface, but it is also often used figuratively. It can then refer to an unpleasant climate, a scratchy voice, or an unfriendly tone.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Gartenarbeit hatte er raue Hände.
After gardening, he had rough hands.
Meaning: approximate
In the meaning 'grob' (rough) or 'ungefähr' (approximate), the word is often combined with concepts such as estimates, plans, or ideas. A typical phrase is 'in rauen Zügen' (in broad outline).
EXAMPLE
Können Sie mir eine raue Schätzung der Kosten geben?
Can you give me a rough estimate of the costs?
Compare with
rauh vs grob
rude / rough / approximate
Grob and rauh can both describe a texture that is not smooth. Grob tends to emphasize a large, non-fine structure, while rauh emphasizes an uneven or grainy surface. Rauh is the outdated spelling of “rau.”
rauh
Der Wollstoff fühlt sich rauh an, weil seine Oberfläche nicht glatt ist.
The wool fabric feels rough because its surface is not smooth.
grob
Der Wollstoff hat eine grobe Struktur mit deutlich sichtbaren Fasern.
The wool fabric has a coarse texture with clearly visible fibers.
In real life
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