Gesprächs

Gesprächs is not a stand-alone word in standard German. It is the genitive form of the noun Gespräch (talk, conversation) and is usually used as a prefix in compound nouns to indicate relation to a conversation. In other words, it signals that the second element of the compound concerns an aspect of a talk or dialogue. It is most commonly found in formal or technical contexts.

Typical examples include Gesprächsführung (the conduct or management of a conversation), Gesprächsverlauf (the course or progression of a conversation), Gesprächsprotokoll (the transcript or minutes of a conversation), and Gesprächsnotizen (notes taken during a conversation). In many compounds, the s- is the standard genitive marker attached to Gespräch when it combines with another noun. Not all compounds follow this pattern, however; some use Gespräch as the base without the possessive suffix, as in Gesprächspartner (the person with whom one is speaking, i.e., the conversation partner).

Usage notes: The prefix Gesprächs- is common in legal, administrative, business, and academic language, where precise reference to the content, conduct, or documentation of a dialogue is important. The form and meaning hinge on the second element of the compound, which can refer to processes (führung, verlauf), documents (protokoll, notizen), or participants (partner in compounds that retain the base Gespräch). Etymologically, Gespräch derives from the verb sprechen (to speak), with the term evolving through Germanic history to denote an exchange of words.

See also: Gespräch.