Groschen

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
Jump to navigation Jump to search
See also: groschen

German

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]

From Middle High German grosse, from Medieval Latin (denarius) grossus (thick (penny)).

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): /ˈɡrɔʃən/, [ˈɡʁɔʃən], [-ʃn̩]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

[edit]

Groschen m (strong, genitive Groschens, plural Groschen)

  1. groschen; any of a number of (chiefly obsolete) coins with a related name
    1. grosz (unit of currency in Poland, 1100 of a zloty)
    2. (historical, Austria) former unit of currency, worth 1100 of a schilling
  2. (informal, Germany) an unofficial name for a coin worth 110 of a main currency
    1. (historical) a 10-pfennig coin
      Damals kostete ein kleines Bier drei Groschen.
      At that time a small beer was thirty pfennig.
    2. (chiefly indefinite) a 10-cent coin
      Ich habe nur noch einige Groschen im Portmonee.
      I only have a couple of dimes left in my purse.
    3. (chiefly indefinite) any comparable coin in another currency
      In London hat mich ein Bettler angesprochen, da hab ich ihm ein paar Groschen gegeben.
      A beggar approached me in London, so I gave him a few coins.

Usage notes

[edit]
  • Though sometimes used, the word has not really caught on in the specific sense of “10 cents”. It is still common for an indefinite amount less than a euro, however.

Declension

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]

Further reading

[edit]
  • Groschen” in Duden online
  • Groschen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache