This is the 3344th most frequent German word.
grundstein
"Grundstein" means "foundation stone" or "cornerstone."
In this sentence, 'Grundstein' is used literally to represent the foundational stone placed as a symbolic act marking the beginning of a construction project.
Der Grundstein für das neue Schulgebäude wurde letzte Woche gelegt.
The foundation stone for the new school building was laid last week.
Here, 'Grundstein' is used metaphorically to signify the essential elements or actions that initiate and support future success.
Die frühe Förderung der Kinder legt den Grundstein für erfolgreiches Lernen.
Early encouragement of children lays the foundation for successful learning.
In this context, 'Grundsteine' is metaphorically describing individuals who played pivotal roles as the basis or core initiators in the development of an important area.