Das Archiv:
Das Wort des Tages
Archives: German Word of the Day (A-F)
A collection of German vocabulary from our daily Wort des Tages for 2000, organized alphabetically (German-English).
Also see our annotated English-German Glossaries on a variety of topics!
Wortschatz: A-F | G-R | S-Z
A
Das A und O.
The Alpha and Omega.
The most important thing.
Extra: A biblical quotation (Revelation 22:13 - Offenbarung Johannis) attributed to Christ: "Ich bin das A und das O, der Anfang und das Ende, der Erste und der Letzte." ("I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.") Omega is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. Also see The Bible in German, from your Guide.
die Aktie (die Aktien)
share of stock (stocks, shares)
die Aktiengesellschaft (AG)
stock company, corporation; "AG" = incorporated, Inc.
Extra: Many German, Austrian, and Swiss companies have names ending in "AG": Volkswagen AG, Lufthansa AG, etc. (Also see GmbH below.)
aktualisieren - aktualisiert
to update - updated
die Aktualitäten
current events
aktuell
current, up-to-date
BEISPIELE: "Diese Website wurde am 11. Juli 2000 aktualisiert." ("This Web site was updated on 11 July 2000.") - "Die aktuelle Nachrichten." ("The current news.")
die Allergie
the allergy
allergisch (gegen)
allergic (to)
BEISPIEL: "Sie ist allergisch gegen Katzen." ("She is allergic to cats.")
das Arbeitsamt
employment agency run by the German government
Extra: See our German Jobs page.
das Arzneimittelgesetz
law regulating the manufacture and distribution of medicines/drugs
die Aufenthaltserlaubnis
permit for foreigners to live and work in Germany
das Auge - die Augen
eye - eyes
unter vier Augen
face-to-face, in private
die Ausbildung
training
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B
die Bildung - die Ausbildung
education - training
(un)gebildet
(un)educated
die Botschaft
embassy; message
gute Botschaft
good tidings
Das erste Buch Mose (Bibel)
Genesis (Bible), the First Book of Moses
die Schöpfung
creation
Extra: See The Bible in German, from your Guide.
der Bulle - die Bullen
the cop - the cops (slang)
Extra: Note that die Polizei (the police) is singular in German: "Die Polizei kommt." ("The police are coming.) But "Die Bullen kommen." ("The cops are coming.) takes a plural verb.
das Bundesland - die Bundesländer
state/province (16 in Germany, 9 in Austria) - states/provinces
C
der Chip
potato chip (Br., potato crisp)
(computer, gambling) chip
nach Christus (n.Chr.)
A.D. (anno domini)
vor Christus (v.Chr.)
B.C. (before Christ)
D
das Dach (die Dächer)
the roof(s)
unter Dach und Fach
signed, sealed, and delivered; a done deal; in the bag
das Damespiel
checkers (game)
dämmern (v., dative)
to dawn (on), finally sink in; to become light or dark (at dawn or dusk)
die Dämmerung
dawn, dawning; twilight, dusk
der Dauerbrenner
enduring, long-running hit, a long kiss
die Dauerkarte
season/commuter ticket
auf die Dauer
in the long run
dauern
to last, take (time)
BEISPIEL: "Wie lange dauert die Reise?" = "How long does the trip take?"
das Denkmal
monument
der Denkmalschutz
historical preservation
deutsche Farben
Schwarz-Rot-Gold, black-red-gold,
the German flag colors first introduced in the 19th century
(das) Deutschland
Germany
Extra: More in our Land und Leute Glossar
Deutscher Entwicklungsdienst (DED)
German Development Service (DED), founded in 1963, modeled after the US Peace Corps. Headquartered in Berlin.
Extra: DED Web site
dolmetschen (v.)
to interpret
der Dolmetscher/die Dometscherin
interpreter
Extra: Many people fail to make the distinction between übersetzen (to translate) and dolmetschen. Translation is written (books, letters, etc.), while interpreting is oral (spoken language). A Dolmetscher/in is an interpreter for spoken language; an Übersetzer/in is a translator of books or other written language.
die Drehtür
revolving door
E
einräumen (v.)
to admit, concede; put away
etwas in etwas einräumen
to put something in something, put something away
Extra: ZITAT - "Bundeskanzler Gerhard Schröder hat eingeräumt, dass es in Deutschland «rechtsradikale Tendenzen» gibt." (dpa)
English: "Federal chancelor Gerhard Schröder has conceded that there are 'extreme right tendencies' in Germany." (dpa, German Press Agency)
erledigen - Alles schon erledigt.
to take care of, do, finish - It's all done/taken care of.
erpressen (v.)
to blackmail, extort
der Erpresser
blackmailer, extortionist
der Euro
the euro (has ranged between US$1.01-1.03)
Extra: Der Euro has been a legal monetary unit in the 11-nation "Eurozone" since 1999. It will replace die Deutsche Mark (DM) and most other EU currencies when it begins circulation in 2002.
der Euroscheck - die Euroscheckkarte
the Eurocheque - Eurocheque-card
Extra: A Euroscheckkarte is a type of debit card/check guarantee card used throughout Europe. It has largely replaced the use of the paper Eurocheque.
F
das Fach (die Fächer)
the subject(s)
das Fachwerk(haus)
half-timbered (house)
das Postfach
P.O. Box
das Fahrvergnügen
driving pleasure (from an old VW TV ad)
die Familie (pl., Familien)
family (families)
die Fortsetzungsfamilie
blended family, serial family (i.e., a 'continuing' family with children from a previous marriage)
come, originate, stem (from)
Extra: More in our Die Familie Glossar
die Feder
pen, quill, feather, (bird's) plume; spring (in clock, etc.)
mit einem Federstrich
with the stroke of a pen
die Feier (n.)
celebration, party
feiern (v.)
to celebrate
BEISPIEL: "Wir haben gefeiert." = "We celebrated."
der Feierabend
closing time, after work
der Feiertag
the holiday
eine feindliche Übernahme
a hostile takeover
(One of the German 'Words of the Year' for 1999)
die Fernsehserie
TV series
die Fliegenklatsche - die Fliegenklappe
flyswatter
der Fliegenpracker
flyswatter (Austrian German)
pracken (Aus.)
to hit, beat (schlagen, klopfen)
die Fluchtgeschwindigkeit
escape velocity (from earth's gravity)
Extra: More in our Aerospace Glossary
die Fortsetzung
continuation, sequel, next installment
die Fortsetzungsfamilie
blended family, serial family (i.e., a 'continuing' family with children from a previous marriage)
Das heutige Wort (Today's Word)
NEXT > G-R
Wortschatz: A-F | G-R | S-Z
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