Wortauswahl - Choosing the best word out of a list of alternatives.
4
votes
4answers
453 views
Is this the proper use of “welches”?
When I write German for work, I continually try to use new words and phrases I am not yet comfortable with in order to break out of linguistic fossilization.
One construct is using "welches" which I ...
6
votes
2answers
194 views
What do you greet in German when someone gets something new
In my mother language, Hebrew, there is a greeting especially for cases when someone gets or buys something new: תתחדש. Is there something similar in German? If not, what will you say to someone who, ...
8
votes
1answer
159 views
Is there a difference between “Messer” and “Kniff?”
The word I was taught for "knife" is "Messer".
But someone, who appears to be a native speaker, answered a question to the effect that "Kniff" looked like its English counterpart "knife".
Certain ...
6
votes
2answers
372 views
How do we define the strength of coffee?
Coffee is the most consumed drink in Germany. No wonder it comes in a huge variety of flavours. However the list of coffee specialities does not say much on the strength of the brew. I heard of
...
4
votes
2answers
132 views
Using Abflug vs Abfahrt
What's the exact difference and how should those words be used?
P.S.: Is it when we talk about air travel and land travel?
15
votes
6answers
357 views
What is the best German translation for the useful word “issue” when describing a problem?
I would like to say the following in German:
Unfortunately, we could not reproduce the Save-as-XML issue that
you are experiencing on your computer.
but I cannot find a word other than ...
2
votes
1answer
168 views
Translating emotional sensitivity words
I'm trying to distinguish the differences between English words that express emotional or psychological sensitivity, in particular "pity", "compassion", "sympathy", "empathy", "pathetic", and ...
6
votes
3answers
2k views
Singular/Plural bei Aufzählungen
Man betrachte folgende zwei Sätze:
Demnach muss nun das Ziel und der Zweck der Regelung ermittelt werden.
oder
Demnach müssen nun das Ziel und der Zweck der Regelung ermittelt werden.
...
2
votes
3answers
334 views
What is the difference between “vorne” and “vorher”?
They both mean "before," right? But does one refer to "time," and the other to "space?" And am I using them correctly in the following translations of popular American songs?
First, from Guys and ...
1
vote
5answers
370 views
Eine Frau kann “zierlich” sein. Wie nennt man einen ebensolchen Mann?
Für eine kleine Frau haben wir das Attribut "zierlich", das auf nette Art beschreibt, das sie zwar klein, aber doch "fein gestaltet und graziös" ist.
Kann man einen Mann auch "zierlich" nennen, ohne ...
5
votes
4answers
396 views
Wie heißt es richtig, Masterthesis oder Masterarbeit?
Ich schreibe gerade an meiner deutschsprachigen Abschlussarbeit und wurde darauf angesprochen, warum auf meinem Titelblatt "Masterthesis" steht.
Sollte es richtig "Masterthesis" oder "Masterarbeit" ...
8
votes
3answers
251 views
What's the difference between “der Fehler” and “der Irrtum”?
Is there a difference between these two terms? I'm asking especially thinking about the grammatical/language sphere, but if you're aware of other important differences, you can post them.
My ...
9
votes
4answers
566 views
Differences between “Klausur”, “Prüfung” and “Examen”
Is there any differences in usage between Klausur, Prüfung, Examen, Test*, and (Klassen)arbeit*?
* Edit: added more synonyms based on answers below.
3
votes
2answers
156 views
Word choice: “manuell” or “von Hand”?
I've been toying with learning German for a few months now, and I'm trying to use my basic knowledge to update the translation to one of my iPhone apps. What word should I use for "manual" as in "set ...
24
votes
10answers
4k views
Why is “Fräulein” considered offensive, as opposed to “Frau”?
Does Fräulein imply that the woman being addressed is not fully a Frau? Does it imply a lower class status?
8
votes
2answers
454 views
Can I use “siehe” when writing to a person with whom I am “per Sie”?
I often read the word "siehe" as in "siehe Anhang" when the writer is using the Sie form. I assume this is an accepted standard, but I don't really understand why, since I would never write using the ...
5
votes
2answers
239 views
What English IT Phrases/Words Should Not be Translated into German?
Working in the German IT industry as an English speaker, you slowly get the sense of which English words and phrases should be used in German and which should not, e.g.:
Use German Term (English term ...
11
votes
1answer
374 views
Redewendung wenn man an ein fremdes Telefon gehen muss
Im Arbeitsumfeld gibt es üblicherweise mehr oder minder festgelegte Formulierungen die man benutzt, etwas in der Art von Firma Meier, Michael Müller, Apparat von Peter Schmitz hört man öfter.
Im ...
4
votes
2answers
121 views
Is there such an expression as “ganz großartig gesagt?”
I once saw in a chess book, the report of a German commentator saying, "ganz großartig gespielt" to a particular move.
Are there commonly used similar expressions with other verbs, such as "ganz ...
5
votes
4answers
325 views
Using “nötig” vs “notwendig”
What is the difference between "nötig" and "notwendig"? When would one be preferred over the other, or are they always interchangeable?
2
votes
1answer
168 views
What are differences between “des” and “darum”?
What are differences between "Des" and "Darum"? Apparently they both mean "therefore", do they?
Here are some contexts:
"Meine Mutter war eine Wienerin, D'RUM habe ich Wien so gern."
"DES ...
9
votes
6answers
365 views
What's the difference between “Dialekt” and “Mundart”?
Are "Dialekt" and "Mundart" exact synonyms, or is one more official, more colloquiel etc? Or are there regional differences in their use? Or maybe one is a broader term than the other and might cover ...
9
votes
4answers
277 views
Selbst oder selber?
Sind folgende Sätze beide richtig?
a) Das haben Sie doch selber gesagt!
b) Das haben Sie doch selbst gesagt!
Wenn ja, gibt es dann einen Unterschied zwischen ihnen?
5
votes
3answers
146 views
Which is the correct pronoun for “Datei”: “die” or “sie”?
Which one is correct:
Vielen Dank für die Datei. Wir haben die angeschaut.
Or
Vielen Dank für die Datei. Wir haben sie angeschaut.
10
votes
4answers
306 views
What are “Marmelade”, “Konfitüre”, or “Fruchtaufstrich”?
Living in Germany I almost exclusively hear "Marmelade" for any spread made of fruits including "Erdbeermarmelade", "Himbeermarmelade", "Aprikosenmarmelade" and so on. Only rarely I also hear ...
8
votes
3answers
300 views
Ist der Gebrauch von “zeitgleich” als Synonym für “gleichzeitig” neueren Ursprungs?
Im Laufe der letzten Jahre fällt mir immer häufiger auf, dass in den Nachrichten statt "gleichzeitig" das Wort "zeitgleich" verwendet wird, wie z.B. in
Dort wurden mit 250 Polizisten zeitgleich ...
14
votes
5answers
323 views
Is there a difference in meaning or correctness between “anderthalb” and “eineinhalb”?
I remember years ago being taught that “one and a half” is anderthalb, and being corrected when I mistakenly used eineinhalb, but I’ve heard eineinhalb a few times recently on the radio.
Any ...
7
votes
4answers
151 views
Stiefväterlich behandeln?
Ein Kind, das man aufzieht, ohne daß es das eigene wäre, heißt Stiefsohn/Stieftochter. Der Elternteil heißt Stiefvater/Stiefmutter.
Wenn ein Mensch für etwas weniger Aufmerksamkeit aufbringt als für ...
8
votes
6answers
182 views
Is there a difference in usage of “Klassenkamerad” vs. “Schulfreund”?
Both "Klassenkamerad", and "Schulfreund" are used for a classmate in school. Are there different connotations, regional differences, or social differences when using one or the other?
6
votes
2answers
132 views
What is the best way to translate “all the” if not “die ganzen”?
When in English I want to say something like this:
Where are all the log files mentioned in this correspondence?
I write in German:
Wo sind die ganzen Logdateien, die in der Korrespondenz ...
2
votes
4answers
133 views
Which is correct, “geschätzte Stunden” or “abgeschätzte Stunden”?
I want to ask someone what the "estimated hours" are for a project.
Which is correct:
Was sind die geschätzten Stunden für dieses Projekt? / Wie viel Stunden würdest du schätzen?
Was sind ...
2
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the difference between “musste”, “muss” and “müsste”?
What are the differences between the following sentences:
Wir wussten nicht, dass die vorhandene Rechtestruktur auch abgebildet werden musste.
Wir wussten nicht, dass die vorhandene ...
3
votes
1answer
220 views
“Selbständig” or “Selbstständig”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Selbständig vs. selbstständig
Both "selbständig" and "selbstständig" exist, being used in the same context in German. Still, I am not sure if there is a ...
6
votes
4answers
302 views
What is the German word for a “SQL lookup table”?
What would the best German word be for an SQL table whose only purpose is to match e.g. an id with a name? In English, I would call this a "lookup table" since the ID is "looked up" and the ...
5
votes
5answers
181 views
What is the most appropriate verb for Abschätzung?
I always try to avoid the verb machen if possible. What would be the best verb for this sentence?
Brauchst du zusätzliche Information, um eine Abschätzung zu __?
erstellen
schaffen
kreieren
???
...
19
votes
5answers
1k views
How to distinguish between a female friend and a girlfriend?
The word Freundin can mean either a girlfriend or a female friend. In some cases, they can be distinguished by using the possessive pronoun to refer to the former:
Ich habe mit meiner Freundin ...
9
votes
4answers
420 views
What is a better verb for “Fotos machen”?
A native German speaker once gave me the tip to always replace the word "machen" with a more precise word.
What verb could I replace "macht" with in this example:
Sie kontaktiert dann einen ...
2
votes
1answer
83 views
How to replace relative pronoun “was” in this sentence?
This is how I would say the following sentence, but when I write it in a formal e-mail, how can I replace the "was" which seems too colloquial for this register:
Der Cataloger macht genau das, was ...
6
votes
3answers
329 views
What is the best way to say “Thanks for reminding me”?
If I want to write "Thanks for reminding me" in a formal e-mail, which is best:
Danke für die Erinnerung.
Danke, dass du mich daran erinnerst.
Danke, dass du mich daran erinnert hast.
...
4
votes
2answers
909 views
What is the difference between “besprochen” and “gesprochen”?
What is the difference in meaning between these two sentences and which one is correct for a formal e-mail?
Wie besprochen sende ich Ihnen meine E-Mail Adresse.
Wie gesprochen sende ich Ihnen meine ...
5
votes
1answer
265 views
Can “nochmal” be used in correct, formal German?
Sometimes when I use the word "nochmal" in a more formal context such as a business e-mail, it is corrected to "noch einmal", e.g.
Ich werde ihn nochmal Anfang Oktober anrufen.
However, the ...
5
votes
4answers
235 views
What's a good translation for “outcome measures”?
For example in the sentence:
Outcome measures for this study include three-year-survival rate and relapse.
8
votes
2answers
173 views
Is there a difference in the usage of “eben” vs. “vorhin”?
In the following examples both variants work:
Vorhin lief mein Rechner noch einwandfrei, jetzt bleibt der Bildschirm schwarz.
Eben lief mein Rechner noch einwandfrei, jetzt bleibt der Bildschirm ...
13
votes
4answers
825 views
What's the difference in usage between “machen” and “tun”?
Is there any rules or guidelines when to use which one?
Du darfst mir nicht sagen, was ich machen soll.
or
Du darfst mir nicht sagen, was ich tun soll.
I find a big overlap in their usage:
...
5
votes
2answers
91 views
Für welche transitiven Verben kann “Qualia” Objekt sein? “Haben”, “Empfinden”…?
Qualia, der "subjektive Erlebnisgehalt mentaler Zustände" (s. z.B. Wikipedia), sind seit über 100 Jahren Objekte (oder müsste man sagen "Subjekte"?) philosophischer Diskussionen (Qualiaproblem).
Der ...
9
votes
7answers
384 views
What Are Ways to Say “Out of Date” In German?
The most common translation I've seen is "altmodisch."
But the question comes from another one of my German translations, from "As Time Goes By"
Mondschein und Liebeslieder sind niemals ...
8
votes
3answers
185 views
Which spelling is the right one: “deinstallieren” or “desinstallieren”?
Some computer software uninstallers that are localized for German users use the word "deinstallieren" and others "desinstallieren".
Which one is the correct one - or are both words right?
--
Update
...
7
votes
2answers
220 views
What is the difference between 'noch' and 'noch immer'?
They would both appear to mean the same thing in English i.e. 'still'
How do they differ and under what circumstances might you use either of them?
6
votes
1answer
81 views
Wortwahl: für vs. über
Wie heißt es richtig:
Gutschein [für|über] einen Kinoabend.
Der Fall "Gutschein über 10€" ist sicherlich richtig, ist aber das Wort "über" auch bei Sachleistungen zulässig?
8
votes
2answers
141 views
Why is “erstmal” not recognized by my spellchecker and is “erstmals” correct?
I typed the following sentence in an E-Mail in Thunderbird:
Muss man sich erstmal einloggen?
The German spellchecker said "erstmal" is not a word and suggested that it be replaced with ...
