das Aufsehen, -

Meaning (in English)

Aufsehen (noun, neuter: das Aufsehen) means public attention, notice, or a stir/sensation—often the kind of attention caused by something unusual or surprising.

Common usage:

• Aufsehen erregen = to attract attention / to cause a sensation
• für Aufsehen sorgen = to create a stir

Parts / Word formation

• Comes from the verb aufsehen (sieht auf – sah auf – hat aufgesehen), which literally means “to look up” (e.g., from a book or from work).
• The noun Aufsehen developed the sense of “being looked at / being noticed”, hence public notice/attention.

Multiple meanings

1. Public attention / sensation

   • Der Vorfall erregte großes Aufsehen.
     = The incident caused a lot of public attention / a big stir.

2. (More literal/older connection) “looking up”

   • This is primarily tied to the verb aufsehen rather than the noun in modern everyday German. As a noun, Aufsehen is normally understood as attention/sensation.

German synonyms

• Aufmerksamkeit (attention)
• Beachtung (notice, consideration)
• Furore (sensation, big buzz)
• Sensation (sensation)
• Rummel (fuss, commotion; often informal)

German antonyms (where applicable)

• Unauffälligkeit (inconspicuousness)
• Gleichgültigkeit (indifference)
• Nichtbeachtung (disregard, lack of notice)
• Bedeutungslosigkeit (insignificance)