die Woge
wave
A large wave moving across the sea or another body of water.
EXAMPLE
Eine hohe Woge schlug gegen das Boot.
A high wave crashed against the boat.
die Woge
wave / surge
die Woge, die Wogen
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Meanings
die Woge
surge
A suddenly strong and spreading mass or an intense feeling. This meaning is usually used figuratively.
EXAMPLE
Eine Woge der Begeisterung ging durch das Publikum.
A wave of enthusiasm swept through the audience.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Woge, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Wogen |
| genitive | der Woge |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Woge | die Wogen |
| accusative | die Woge | die Wogen |
| dative | der Woge | den Wogen |
| genitive | der Woge | der Wogen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Style and register
'Woge' (wave / surge) often sounds vivid and expressive and is therefore especially common in literary, journalistic, or emotional texts. Even when describing actual movement in water, the word gives the description a dramatic tone.
EXAMPLE
Die Woge türmte sich plötzlich vor dem Schiff auf.
The wave suddenly rose up in front of the ship.
Typical collocations
When 'Woge' (wave) refers to water, it often occurs with verbs describing movement or impact, such as 'heranrollen' (to roll toward), 'brechen' (to break), and 'gegen etwas schlagen' (to crash against something). Adjectives such as 'hoch' (high), 'mächtig' (mighty), or 'breit' (broad) also commonly go with it.
EXAMPLE
Mächtige Wogen brachen an der felsigen Küste.
Mighty waves broke along the rocky coast.
Figurative collocations
In its figurative meaning, 'Woge' (surge) often occurs with a feeling or reaction in the genitive, for example 'eine Woge der Begeisterung' (a wave of enthusiasm) or 'eine Woge der Empörung' (a wave of outrage). The expression 'die Wogen glätten sich' (things calm down; literally: the waves subside) is also very common: after an argument or a period of great agitation, things become calmer again.
EXAMPLE
Die Entscheidung löste eine Woge der Empörung aus.
The decision triggered a wave of outrage.
Nach dem Streit dauerte es Tage, bis sich die Wogen geglättet hatten.
After the argument, it took days for things to calm down.
In real life
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