groß
big, large (in size) · tall (for people) · great, major, significant · grown-up, adult
Means 'big' or 'large' in size, amount, or importance. It is one of the most common German adjectives and is also used figuratively for 'great' or 'major'. Learners should note that 'groß' often translates to 'tall' when describing people.
What groß means
- big, large (in size) — Describing physical dimensions of objects, animals, places.
- tall (for people) — Describing a person's height.
- great, major, significant — Describing importance, intensity, or degree.
- grown-up, adult — Used in phrases like 'groß werden' (to grow up) or 'die Großen' (the adults).
Heard in real German videos
Lines where groß was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Für die große Krabbe.For the big crab.
- Das war jetzt keine große Hilfe.That wasn't much help.
Example sentences
- Der Elefant ist sehr groß.The elephant is very big.
- Mein Bruder ist größer als ich.My brother is taller than I am.
- Das war ein großer Fehler.That was a big mistake.
- Wenn ich groß bin, werde ich Feuerwehrmann.When I grow up, I'll be a firefighter.
Grammar
| Comparative | größer |
|---|---|
| Superlative | am größten / der/die/das größte |
The comparative and superlative add an umlaut: groß → größer → am größten.
Common phrases
- groß und kleinbig and small, everyone
- im Großen und Ganzenon the whole, by and large
- groß schreibento capitalize (a letter)
- groß rauskommento make it big, to become famous
The mistake English speakers make
Using 'groß' for 'tall' when describing people: English speakers often say 'hoch' for tall, but 'hoch' means 'high' and is not used for people's height. Use 'groß' instead.
Don’t confuse it with
- hoch — 'Hoch' means 'high' and is used for things like mountains, buildings, or prices, not for people's height.
- weit — 'Weit' means 'wide' or 'far', not 'big' in general.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'groß' and 'hoch'?
'Groß' means big or tall (for people), while 'hoch' means high (for objects, buildings, or abstract things like prices). Use 'groß' for a person's height.
How do you form the comparative and superlative of 'groß'?
The comparative is 'größer' and the superlative is 'am größten' or 'der/die/das größte'. Note the umlaut change from o to ö.
Can 'groß' mean 'great' as in 'great person'?
Yes, 'groß' can mean 'great' in the sense of important or admirable, e.g., 'ein großer Künstler' (a great artist). However, for 'great' meaning 'wonderful', Germans often use 'toll' or 'super'.