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Krieg
/kʁiːk/
war
Der Zweite Weltkrieg dauerte von 1939 bis 1945.
World War II lasted from 1939 to 1945.
formal
A state of armed conflict between different nations or groups within a nation.
Der Krieg zwischen den beiden Ländern kostete Hunderttausende das Leben.
The war between the two countries cost hundreds of thousands of lives.
Sie hat viele Bücher über den Ersten Weltkrieg geschrieben.
She has written many books about World War I.
Can refer to large-scale conflicts (e.g., Weltkrieg) or smaller wars. Often used in historical, political, or military contexts.
informal
A struggle or effort, often metaphorical.
Der Kampf gegen den Krebs ist ein harter Krieg.
The fight against cancer is a tough war.
Used in expressions like 'Krieg gegen X' (war against X) to describe intense efforts or struggles.
Collocations
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Capitalization
Remember that 'Krieg' is always capitalized in German because it is a noun.
Gold Rule
Context matters
Use 'Krieg' for large-scale armed conflicts. For smaller disputes, consider 'Streit' (argument) or 'Konflikt' (conflict).
Word Origin
From Middle High German *kriec*, from Old High German *krieg* (strife, dispute), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *krīgiz* (strife, quarrel). Related to Old English *crīg* (quarrel) and Dutch *krijg* (war).
Usage Notes
The word 'Krieg' is a strong term and should be used with care, especially in diplomatic or sensitive contexts. It is capitalized as a noun in German.
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