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Stärke
/ˈʃtɛʁkə/
strength
Seine körperliche Stärke ist beeindruckend.
His physical strength is impressive.
general
The quality or state of being physically strong; power derived from muscular or mental effort.
Die Stärke eines Materials wird in Newton pro Quadratmillimeter gemessen.
The strength of a material is measured in newtons per square millimeter.
Sie hat durch hartes Training an Stärke gewonnen.
She has gained strength through hard training.
Can refer to physical power, mental resilience, or the robustness of materials/objects.
figurative
A person or thing regarded as an embodiment of strength.
Er war die Stärke der Mannschaft in schwierigen Momenten.
He was the team's strength in difficult moments.
Often used metaphorically to describe someone's supportive or stabilizing role.
chemistry/cooking
Concentration or potency of a solution, substance, or mixture.
Die Stärke der Säure muss genau dosiert werden.
The strength of the acid must be precisely dosed.
Common in contexts like chemistry (e.g., acid strength) or cooking (e.g., syrup concentration).
military/business
The number of people in a military unit or workforce.
Die Kompanie hat eine Stärke von 120 Soldaten.
The company has a strength of 120 soldiers.
Used in military or organizational contexts to denote size or capacity.
Collocations
körperliche Stärkephysical strengthgeistige Stärkemental strengthStärke zeigento show strengthan Stärke gewinnento gain strength
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Gender and Plural
Remember: 'Stärke' is feminine (die) and its plural is 'Stärken'. Example: 'Ihre Stärken sind ihre Intelligenz und ihre Stärke.' (Her strengths are her intelligence and her strength.)
Gold Rule
Context Matters
The meaning of 'Stärke' shifts significantly based on context (physical, mental, chemical, or organizational). Always check the surrounding text to determine the intended sense.
Word Origin
From Middle High German *starc*, from Old High German *star(a)k*, from Proto-Germanic *\*starkaz* (strong), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *\*ster-* (stiff, rigid). Related to English 'strong' and Dutch 'sterk'.
Usage Notes
As a noun, 'Stärke' is always feminine (die Stärke). In compound forms (e.g., 'Körperstärke'), it often loses the umlaut in plural (Stärken). Avoid confusion with 'stärken' (verb, to strengthen) or 'stark' (adjective, strong).
Word Breakdown
Stärk-
strong
root-e
feminine noun suffix
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch