roh
raw
Describes food that has not been cooked, fried, or otherwise prepared with heat.
EXAMPLE
Für Sushi wird roher Fisch verwendet.
Raw fish is used for sushi.
roh
raw
roh – roher – am rohsten
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Meanings
roh
raw
Refers to materials or substances that have not yet been processed or refined and are in their original, natural state.
EXAMPLE
Erdöl ist ein roher Rohstoff, aus dem später Benzin hergestellt wird.
Crude oil is a raw material from which gasoline is later produced.
roh
brutal / crude
Describes brutal, rough, or violent behavior without sensitivity or civility.
EXAMPLE
Sein roher Umgangston schockierte die Anwesenden.
His crude tone shocked those present.
roh
rough / unfinished
Refers to a draft, sketch, or version that is still unfinished and not fully developed.
EXAMPLE
Der Regisseur zeigte uns eine rohe Schnittfassung des Films.
The director showed us a rough cut of the film.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry roh, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | roh |
|---|---|
| comparative | roher |
| superlative | am rohsten |
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to roh.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to roh.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to roh.
Usage tips
Typical collocations: food
In connection with food, 'roh' (raw) describes the uncooked state. Typical combinations are 'rohes Fleisch' (raw meat), 'rohes Gemüse' (raw vegetables), or 'rohe Eier' (raw eggs).
EXAMPLE
Manche Leute essen gerne rohes Sauerkraut.
Some people like eating raw sauerkraut.
Typical collocations: materials
When it comes to materials, 'roh' (raw) means that they have not yet been processed or refined. For example, people speak of 'Rohöl' (crude oil), 'Rohdaten' (raw data), or a 'Rohdiamant' (rough diamond).
EXAMPLE
Aus dem Rohmaterial wird in der Fabrik das Endprodukt hergestellt.
The final product is made from the raw material in the factory.
Figurative meaning: behavior
In a figurative sense, 'roh' (brutal/crude) describes brutal and ruthless behavior. Common expressions are 'rohe Gewalt' (brute force) or 'ein roher Ton' (a crude tone).
EXAMPLE
Der Täter ging mit roher Gewalt vor.
The perpetrator acted with brute force.
Figurative meaning: unfinished
'Roh' (rough/unfinished) can also mean that something is not yet finished or fully developed. In that case, people speak of a 'roher Entwurf' (rough draft), a 'rohe Fassung' (rough version), or a 'Rohbau' (shell construction).
EXAMPLE
Der Autor schickte seinem Lektor erst einmal nur eine rohe Fassung des Romans.
At first, the author sent his editor only a rough version of the novel.
Compare with
roh vs unverändert
unchanged
Unverändert and roh can both describe a material or draft that has not undergone any finished processing or alteration. Unverändert compares the current state with an earlier one, whereas roh emphasizes the lack of processing or development. Use unverändert for the comparison and roh for a state that has not yet been worked on.
roh
Das Holz ist noch roh und muss vor dem Bau verarbeitet werden.
The wood is still raw and must be processed before construction.
unverändert
Das Holz sieht nach dem Transport noch unverändert aus.
The wood still looks unchanged after transport.
In real life
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