Groschen

See also: groschen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German grosse, from Medieval Latin (denarius) grossus (“thick (penny)”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡrɔʃən/, [ˈɡʁɔʃən], [-ʃn̩]

• Audio (Germany (Berlin)):

  (file)

Noun

Groschen m (strong, genitive Groschens, plural Groschen)

1. groschen; any of a number of (chiefly obsolete) coins with a related name
   1. grosz (unit of currency in Poland, ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a zloty)
   2. (historical, Austria) former unit of currency, worth ¹⁄₁₀₀ of a schilling
2. (informal, Germany) an unofficial name for a coin worth ¹⁄₁₀ of a main currency
   1. (historical) a 10-pfennig coin

      Damals kostete ein kleines Bier drei Groschen.

      At that time a small beer was thirty pfennig.

   2. (chiefly indefinite) a 10-cent coin

      Ich habe nur noch einige Groschen im Portmonee.

      I only have a couple of dimes left in my purse.

   3. (chiefly indefinite) any comparable coin in another currency

      In London hat mich ein Bettler angesprochen, da hab ich ihm ein paar Groschen gegeben.

      A beggar approached me in London, so I gave him a few coins.

Usage notes

• Though sometimes used, the word has not really caught on in the specific sense of “10 cents”. It is still common for an indefinite amount less than a euro, however.

Declension

Declension of Groschen [masculine, strong]

	singular			plural
	indef.	def.	noun	def.	noun
nominative	ein	der	Groschen	die	Groschen
genitive	eines	des	Groschens	der	Groschen
dative	einem	dem	Groschen	den	Groschen
accusative	einen	den	Groschen	die	Groschen

Derived terms

• der Groschen ist gefallen

Further reading

• “Groschen” in Duden online
• “Groschen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache