die Sprosse
rung
One of the crossbars of a ladder that you step on in order to climb up or down.
EXAMPLE
Vorsicht, die unterste Sprosse der alten Holzleiter ist locker.
Careful, the bottom rung of the old wooden ladder is loose.
die Sprosse
rung / sprout
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Meanings
die Sprosse
sprout
A young, newly grown shoot of a plant that emerges from a seed or bud.
EXAMPLE
Im Frühling kann man die ersten grünen Sprossen aus der Erde kommen sehen.
In spring, you can see the first green sprouts coming out of the ground.
die Sprosse
sprout
Seedlings from seeds that are eaten as a vegetable, such as soy or mung bean sprouts.
EXAMPLE
Für meinen Salat verwende ich gerne frische Sprossen.
I like to use fresh sprouts for my salad.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Sprosse' (rung/sprout) is closely related to the verb 'sprießen' (to grow/sprout), which means 'wachsen' (to grow) or 'keimen' (to germinate). This connection helps you understand the meanings that have to do with plants.
EXAMPLE
Überall im Garten sprießen die ersten Frühlingsblumen.
The first spring flowers are sprouting everywhere in the garden.
Context clue
The meaning of 'Sprosse' (rung/sprout) becomes clear immediately from the context. In sentences with 'Leiter' (ladder), it refers to the crossbar. With 'Pflanze' (plant) or 'Erde' (soil/ground), it is about a shoot. With 'Salat' (salad) or 'essen' (to eat), it refers to the vegetable.
EXAMPLE
Er kletterte die Leiter Sprosse für Sprosse hinauf.
He climbed up the ladder rung by rung.
Figurative meaning
The rung of a ladder is often used figuratively. The expression 'die Karriereleiter Sprosse für Sprosse erklimmen' means to move up professionally step by step.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat hart gearbeitet und ist die Karriereleiter Sprosse für Sprosse emporgestiegen.
She worked hard and climbed the career ladder rung by rung.
Typical verbs
In a culinary context, people often talk about 'zu ziehen' (to grow) sprouts themselves or 'keimen zu lassen' (to let them germinate). This means growing them at home from seeds.
EXAMPLE
Auf der Fensterbank lasse ich in einem Glas Sprossen für mein Müsli keimen.
On the windowsill, I let sprouts germinate in a jar for my muesli.
Compare with
Sprosse vs Stufe
step / level
Stufe and Sprosse both provide a place for one foot when climbing, but they belong to different objects. A staircase has Stufen, while the crossbars of a ladder are called Sprossen.
Sprosse
Auf der obersten Sprosse der Leiter blieb er kurz stehen.
He paused briefly on the top rung of the ladder.
Stufe
Auf der obersten Stufe der Treppe blieb er kurz stehen.
He paused briefly on the top step of the staircase.
In real life
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