to sprout
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to sprout
The beginning growth of plants, in which new shoots, leaves, or buds emerge from the ground or from a seed.
Nach dem Regen sprießen die ersten Grashalme auf der Wiese.
After the rain, the first blades of grass sprout in the meadow.
to spring up
In a figurative sense, the sudden and numerous emergence or appearance of something.
In den letzten Jahren sind überall in der Stadt neue Hochhäuser aus dem Boden gesprossen.
In recent years, new high-rises have been springing up all over the city.
to sprout
The beginning growth of hair, especially beard growth in young men.
Dem Teenager sprießen die ersten Barthaare am Kinn.
The teenager's first beard hairs are sprouting on his chin.
The spelling 'spriessen' with 'ss' is common in Switzerland. In Germany and Austria, the word is written 'sprießen' with 'ß'. Both forms have the same meaning.
Im Frühling sprießen die Krokusse aus der Erde.
In spring, the crocuses sprout from the ground.
'Spriessen' (to sprout) is a strong verb (sprießen, spross, ist gesprossen) and always forms the perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). This is because it describes a change or a kind of movement.
Überall sind neue Ideen für das Projekt gesprossen.
New ideas for the project have sprung up everywhere.
In a botanical context, 'spriessen' (to sprout) is often used with subjects like 'Knospen' (buds), 'Blätter' (leaves), 'Samen' (seeds), or 'Pflanzen' (plants). It describes the first visible growth.
Die ersten Blätter spriessen schon an den Bäumen.
The first leaves are already sprouting on the trees.
In the figurative meaning, the expression 'aus dem Boden spriessen' (to spring up out of the ground) is very common. It describes something appearing suddenly and in large numbers, similar to mushrooms.
Nach dem Erfolg des ersten Ladens sind neue Filialen wie Pilze aus dem Boden gesprossen.
After the success of the first store, new branches sprang up like mushrooms.
This meaning is used almost exclusively for the first growth of facial hair in adolescents. A typical phrasing is 'der erste Bart spriesst' (the first beard is sprouting).
Er ist stolz, weil ihm endlich der erste Flaum am Kinn spriesst.
He is proud because the first fuzz is finally sprouting on his chin.
to grow / to wax
For a beard, wachsen refers to the normal growth process. Spriessen, by contrast, vividly emphasizes individual hairs first becoming visible. Use wachsen for a neutral statement about development; when the first visible beard growth is meant, spriessen can be the more vivid choice.
Unter seiner Nase beginnen die ersten dunklen Barthaare zu spriessen.
The first dark beard hairs are starting to sprout under his nose.
Sein Bart wächst inzwischen gleichmäßig und dicht.
His beard is now growing evenly and thickly.
