01
der Ruck
jerk / jolt
A short, sudden, and often forceful movement.
example
Mit einem Ruck öffnete er die klemmende Tür.
With a jerk, he opened the stuck door.
der Ruck
jerk / jolt
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The noun 'der Ruck' is closely related to the verb 'rücken', which means 'to move something' or 'to shift'. A 'Ruck' is therefore the sudden, short action that results from 'rücken' (moving/shifting).
EXAMPLE
Er rückte den schweren Schrank mit einem lauten Ruck an die Wand.
He moved the heavy cabinet against the wall with a loud jolt.
Typical expression
For a single, sudden movement, the expression 'mit einem Ruck' (with a jerk) is very commonly used. It describes how an action is carried out: quickly and forcefully.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Holzkiste ließ sich nur mit einem Ruck öffnen.
The old wooden box could only be opened with a jerk.
Fixed expression
The figurative meaning is used almost only in the fixed expression 'ein Ruck geht durch...' (a jolt runs through...). Here, 'ein Ruck' is the subject of the sentence, and the affected group is attached with 'durch' + accusative.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Ankündigung ging ein Ruck durch die Mannschaft.
After the announcement, a jolt ran through the team.
Compare with
Ruck vs Wandel
change
'der Wandel' and 'der Ruck' can both be connected with change in a group or society. 'der Wandel' describes the longer process. In the expression 'ein Ruck geht durch', 'der Ruck' means more of a sudden impulse: many people change their attitude or become active all at once. A 'Ruck' can therefore be the beginning or trigger of a 'Wandel'. For a slow development, use 'Wandel'. For a quick collective movement or new energy, 'Ruck' fits better.
Ruck
Nach der klaren Ansage ging ein Ruck durch das ganze Team.
After the clear announcement, a jolt went through the whole team.
Wandel
Nach der Arbeit liest sie einen Artikel über den Wandel im Lernen.
After work, she reads an article about the change in learning.
In real life
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