noun

der Fluss, ¨-e

river

Ein langes Gewässer mit fließendem Wasser, das durch das Land verläuft.

Definition & meaning

der Fluss — plural: die Flüsse — primarily means river, a natural body of flowing water that usually runs toward a lake, sea, or another river.

It can also mean flow or stream, especially in a figurative or technical sense:

der Fluss des Wassers — the flow of water
der Fluss einer Rede — the flow of a speech
Die Arbeit ist im Fluss. — The work is progressing smoothly; literally, “the work is in flow.”

In contexts involving electricity, data, or materials, Fluss can also refer to a flow, flux, or current.

Grammar & Word origin

Gender: masculine
Article: der
Plural: die Flüsse
Pronunciation: approximately flooss
Verb connection: fließen — to flow

Fluss is historically related to the verb fließen . The noun developed from the idea of something that flows. The spelling change from u to ü in the plural is a common German vowel change: der Fluss → die Flüsse.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

der Strom — a large, powerful river; it can also mean an electrical current or a stream of people. It often suggests a larger river than Fluss.
der Bach — a small stream or creek, usually much smaller than a Fluss.
das Gewässer — a body of water, including rivers, lakes, and other natural waters. It is broader and more formal than Fluss.
der Wasserlauf — a watercourse or channel through which water flows; it is more technical and does not necessarily imply a large river.

There is no exact antonym for Fluss in its geographical meaning. In its figurative meaning of continuous progress or movement, possible opposites include:

der Stillstand — standstill or stagnation
die Unterbrechung — interruption

Common phrases & collocations

einen Fluss überqueren — to cross a river
am Fluss entlanggehen — to walk along the river
am Fluss liegen — to be situated on a river
flussaufwärts — upstream
flussabwärts — downstream
in einen See münden — to flow into a lake
ins Meer münden — to flow into the sea
im Fluss sein — to be progressing smoothly or to be in a state of continuous development