This is the 5177th most frequent German word.
au
"Au" in German means "meadow" or "riverside forest."
Here, 'Au' is used as an interjection denoting pain or surprise, commonly uttered when someone feels sudden pain.
Au, das tut weh!
Ouch, that hurts!
In this sentence, 'au' is part of 'durch den Wald,' indicating direction or location, meaning 'through' or 'across.'
Au durch den Wald fliegen die Vögel.
Through the forest, the birds fly.
Here, 'Au' is part of 'Außergewöhnlich,' an adjective meaning 'extraordinary,' used to describe something remarkable or exceptional.