English–German

“rough” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ʁaʊ̯/

Example

Das Papier ist rau.

The paper is rough.

Illustration for rau (rough)

How to say “rough” in German

“Rough” in German is rau.

A surface or sound feels dry, uneven, and lacking smooth softness.

Full entry for rau: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with rau

Er antwortete in rauem Ton, sodass das Gespräch schnell unangenehm wurde.

He answered in a rough tone, so the conversation quickly became awkward.

Tips for using rau

  • For a specifically hoarse voice, German usually uses heiser, while rau emphasizes a harsh, dry quality in a voice or sound.

“rough” in other languages