"a _ used for _" structure in German

Question

Is there a standard way to translate phrases like "a _ used for _".

Example: I'm trying to define 'Ohr' in German as "organ used for hearing". Based on what I've read, I've come up with a few possibilities, but I'm not sure which to prefer:

1. Organ für Gehör benutzt

2. Organ für das Gehör benutzt

3. Organ zum Gehör benutzt

4. Organ benutzt zu hören

Are any of the above correct "_ used for _" translations? Also, does a construction like that sound weird in German?

Answer 1

Wiktionary, for example, defines the ear as

Anatomie: Sinnesorgan zur Wahrnehmung von akustischen Signalen (Gehör)

This actually is already a good way to translated used for into German: zu + Substantiv.

Organ used for hearing, thus, could be translated as Organ zum Hören.

If you'd like to go with the verb benutzen, you should add the implicit "which is" into the English sentence: An organ which is used for hearing.

Ein Organ, das zum Wahrnehmen von akustischen Signalen benutzt wird.
Ein Organ, das zum Hören benutzt wird.

This sentence now follows the English phrasing most closely but it sounds less good than the other one.

Note, that "Wahrnehmen von akustischen Signalen" is the formal way of saying "Hören"

Answer 2

Your versions are good starting points.

1. Generally, you should use Hören instead of Gehör as aim of benutzen. Reason: Gehör refers to the sense as an abstract ability of the human body and not to the concrete happening Hören. In the German understanding, this abstract ability cannot be the result or aim of a usage (benutzen). So the possibilities here are

1. das Gehör benutzen
2. benutzen um zu hören
3. zum Hören benutzen

1. In definitions, the usage of relative clauses is prefered to infinitive or participal clauses. The usage of inifinitive and participal clauses is rather poetic.

2. So, you can make the sentences better:

1. Organ des Gehörs (shortcut)
2. Organ, das zum Hören benutzt wird (most usual form)
3. Organ zum Hören benutzt (rather poetic)
4. Organ zum Hören (simplified form)
5. Organ benutzt zum Hören (even more poetic)