schluss

Schluss is a German noun meaning end, conclusion, or closing. It is used for both physical endings and abstract conclusions, and is derived from the verb schließen, meaning to close or to shut. As a standalone noun, Schluss often appears in fixed phrases and as a component in compounds.

Common uses and phrases include: Schlussstrich, the metaphorical line drawn under something or a break with someone; den Schlussstrich ziehen. Schluss mit …, an exclamation signaling that something should stop. Schlusswort, concluding remarks at the end of a speech or text. Schlussakkord, the final chord or cadence in music. Schlussverkauf, a clearance sale at the end of a season. In discourse, schließlich and zuletzt share the same semantic field of transition to a final point, though they are distinct words.

Schluss also occurs in legal and literary contexts: Schlussplädoyer (closing argument) in court, and Schlusswort or similar terms referring to the ending section of a work. In everyday language, phrases like „am Schluss“ or „am Ende“ are used to indicate the final outcome or the ultimate point of a discussion.

Usage notes: Schluss is versatile and widely understood in German-speaking regions. It can function as a concrete noun (the end of a book) or as part of idiomatic expressions that convey finality, closure, or conclusion. In English-language texts, it is typically rendered as “end” or “conclusion” and may appear in quotes when quoting German phrases.