Grundwort

Grundwort is a term used in linguistics and lexicography to denote the base form, lemma, or canonical form of a word. It represents the core meaning of the lexeme and serves as the form cited in dictionaries and word lists. From the Grundwort, inflected or derived forms are produced through affixation, endings, or other morphological processes.

In German usage, Grundwort is often synonymous with Grundform or Lemma, though terminological preferences vary by field. Some authors distinguish between Grundwort as the semantic core (the lemma) and Wortstamm as the phonological or morphophonological stem to which grammatic or productive endings are attached. Examples help illustrate the concept: for the verb gehen, the Grundwort is gehen; its inflected forms include geht, ging, gegangen. For the noun Haus, the Grundwort is Haus; its derived forms include Häuser in the plural. The concept is helpful for indexing, dictionary compilation, and linguistic analysis, where a single Grundwort anchors related forms.

The term is most often encountered in educational materials, older lexicographic texts, and discussions of word formation. Modern terminology in linguistics more frequently uses Lemma or Grundform, while Grundwort may persist in some contexts as a synonym or in teaching traditions. Related notions include Grundwortschatz (core vocabulary), Wortstamm (stem), and die Wortbildung (word formation). See also lemma, dictionary form, and core vocabulary.