der Spruch
saying
A short, memorable sentence that contains a piece of life wisdom, a motto, or a joke; a proverb or idiom.
EXAMPLE
An der Wand hing ein Schild mit dem Spruch: „Carpe Diem“.
On the wall hung a sign with the saying: 'Carpe Diem.'
der Spruch
saying / remark / ruling
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Meanings
der Spruch
remark
A thoughtless, cheeky, or inappropriate remark.
EXAMPLE
Für diesen dummen Spruch musste er sich später entschuldigen.
He later had to apologize for that stupid remark.
der Spruch
ruling
In legal language, the official decision or judgment of a court or arbitration court.
EXAMPLE
Der Spruch des Schiedsrichters ist für beide Parteien bindend.
The arbitrator's ruling is binding for both parties.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Spruch' (saying/remark/ruling) belongs to the word family of 'sprechen' (to speak). A 'Spruch' is therefore something that is said or 'spoken' and often has a special, memorable form.
EXAMPLE
Kennst du den Spruch „Wer rastet, der rostet“?
Do you know the saying 'Wer rastet, der rostet' (you snooze, you lose / if you rest, you rust)?
Context clue
The meaning can often be recognized from context. If it is about wisdom or sayings, meaning 1 is intended. In connection with negative adjectives like 'dumm' (stupid) or 'frech' (cheeky), it is meaning 2. In a legal context (court, judgment), it is meaning 3.
EXAMPLE
Mein Opa kennt viele alte Sprüche.
My grandpa knows many old sayings.
Typical collocations
In the colloquial sense of a cheeky remark, there are the fixed expressions 'Sprüche machen' and 'Sprüche klopfen'. Both mean that someone is constantly making funny or inappropriate comments.
EXAMPLE
Hör auf, immer so dumme Sprüche zu klopfen!
Stop always making such stupid remarks!
Register: technical language
The meaning 'Urteil' (judgment) or 'Entscheidung' (decision) is limited to legal language. In everyday speech, 'der Spruch' is never used in this sense.
EXAMPLE
Nach langer Beratung verkündete der Richter den Spruch.
After lengthy deliberation, the judge announced the ruling.
Compare with
Spruch vs Urteil
judgment / verdict
Urteil refers to the court's decision at the end of a trial. Spruch is also an official legal decision, but it sounds more formal and can also come from an arbitration tribunal. Urteil is usually the more common term for a court decision.
Spruch
Nach dem Schiedsverfahren verkündete das Schiedsgericht seinen Spruch.
After the arbitration proceedings, the arbitration tribunal announced its ruling.
Urteil
Nach dem Prozess verkündete das Gericht sein Urteil.
After the trial, the court announced its verdict.
In real life
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