noun
die Schlacht, -en
battle
Ein großer, oft langer Kampf zwischen Gruppen von Soldaten.
The German word "Schlacht" is a noun meaning "battle" or "slaughter".
- It comes from the verb "schlagen" meaning "to hit" or "to strike".
- Primarily, "Schlacht" refers to a large-scale, organized fight or war engagement.
- It can also mean the act of killing animals for meat (slaughter).
Similar words:
- "Kampf" – fight, struggle (more general, can be both physical and abstract)
- "Gefechte" – skirmish, combat (smaller-scale battle)
- "Massaker" – massacre (one-sided, brutal killing)
Differences:
- "Schlacht" specifically denotes a formal or large battle between armies.
- "Kampf" is broader, ranging from fights to non-physical struggles.
- "Massaker" focuses on the brutal, often unjustified killing of defenseless people.
- "Gefechte" is used for smaller or brief combat events.
In summary, "Schlacht" emphasizes organized warfare battles, differing from more general or brutal types of fights described by the other terms.
Make “Schlacht” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Die Schlacht fand im Mittelalter statt.noun
The battle took place in the Middle Ages.
Viele Ritter zogen in die Schlacht.noun
Many knights went into battle.
Die Schlacht dauerte den ganzen Tag.noun
The battle lasted all day.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad