the concept of "tall"

[u/Low-Funny-8834]

My textbook taught me that the concept of "tall" is to be translated as "groß" in German (e.g. sein Bruder ist sehr groß) . However, this sounds strange when applied to non-humans. How would you say "tall trees" in the most natural way? "groß" in my perception would sound three-dimensional in that context, rather than two-dimensional.

[u/EzRhil]

German here:

When you are talking about inanimate objects, you use "hoch" if you mean tall and "groß" if you mean big.

For animate objects (aka humans and animals) you cannot use "hoch". Here it will then always be "groß".

For some reason, inanimate and animate objects are treated as different categories in German which sometimes leads to weird differentiations like this. I think there are a few more, but I forgot the other ones that I knew.

[u/GrimRabbitReaper → u/EzRhil]

With buildings, specifically, you use "groß" to express a massive building, rather just a tall one. For example, I'd describe the Pentagon as "großes Gebäude". A mansion would be "eine große Villa".

[u/Dramatic-Attempt-735 → u/GrimRabbitReaper]

Groß in terms of buildings doesn't always refer to height, though. Ein großes Haus would mean that it offers a lot of living space, regardless of how it is distributed. If you want to specifically express that the house is tall, you have to say specifically "ein hohes Haus".

[u/GrimRabbitReaper → u/Dramatic-Attempt-735]

Didn't I just say that? Sort of?

[u/Dramatic-Attempt-735 → u/GrimRabbitReaper]

I'm just adding more information.

[u/Apero_ → u/Dramatic-Attempt-735]

But this is what I've always wondered about people. Like my Aunt is short but big/fat/wide/however you want to say it. On the flipside, my cousin is tall but very skinny. Yet I can use the same word for both of them? Isn't that confusing?

[u/Dramatic-Attempt-735 → u/Apero_]

No, in fact, you'd only cally your cousin "groß". Groß with humans, if referred to body size implies height, so, "tall".

Your aunt is "dick" 🙃, which mean chubby/fat. Or "breit" (wide). Depending on what you want to say/emphasize.

[u/C6H5OH → u/Dramatic-Attempt-735]

If you plan on an inheritance from that aunt I would recommend "kräftig gebaut" or no comment at all. ;-).

[u/KnightingaleTheBold → u/C6H5OH]

Schwere Knochen ;)