groß

Groß is a German adjective meaning large or big in physical size and, more broadly, of great extent or degree. The standard spelling uses the eszett (ß) after a long vowel or diphthong; in Switzerland and Liechtenstein the corresponding spelling is gross with ss. The word is etymologically related to Proto-Germanic roots and cognate with the English word great, reflecting a common historical sense of magnitude.

In grammar, groß is declined like other mixed-geminates. For example: ein großes Haus (neuter singular), große Häuser (plural), das Haus ist groß (predicative). The comparative form is größer and the superlative am größten. It occurs attributively before nouns and predicatively after verbs such as sein, bleiben oder werden: Das ist groß. It also appears as a productive prefix in compounds denoting size or importance, such as Großbritannien (Great Britain) or Großstadt (metropolis).

Beyond describing size, groß functions in idiomatic expressions and compound words that emphasize magnitude or importance. It can form part of toponyms and organizational names, where it signals prominence or extent. In written German, Groß is also a common surname; when umlauts cannot be rendered, the surname is often written Gross in ASCII contexts.

Notes on usage: groß contrasts with klein (small). The ß spelling rule applies after long vowels or diphthongs; after short vowels or in all-caps contexts, ss is used. The term is widely used across formal and informal registers to convey size, importance, or intensity.