grund

Grund is a German noun with several closely related meanings. It most often denotes the ground or base of a surface, the bottom or underlying layer, but it can also mean a reason, motive, or cause for something. In abstract usage it stands for the basis or justification of a claim or action, as in phrases like Begründung or aus diesem Grund (“for this reason”). The word appears in many common compounds such as Grundwasser (groundwater), Grundstück (plot of land), Grundschule (elementary school), Grundlagen (basics or fundamentals), and Grundlagenforschung (basic research).

Etymology and related senses: Grund derives from Old High German grund and is cognate with English ground. The sense of base or foundation is ancient in Germanic languages and has given rise to a wide family of compounds that denote physical ground, fundamental principles, or underlying reasons.

Usage and grammar: Grund is masculine in the singular (der Grund) with the plural Gründe when meaning “reasons.” In compounds the gender of the resulting noun is determined by the head noun (for example, Grundwasser is das Grundwasser). The word is also used in philosophy and logic to indicate grounding or the foundation of an argument or theory.

Toponymy: As a place-name element, Grund occurs in several German-speaking regions, where towns or municipalities adopt the element as part of their name, often reflecting historical associations with land or a foundational feature.

See also: Grund und Boden; Grundgesetz; Begründung; Grundlagen.