der Spiegel, –
mirror
Ein Gegenstand mit glatter, glänzender Fläche, in dem man sein eigenes Bild oder andere Dinge sehen kann.
The German word "Spiegel" is a noun that means "mirror". It derives from the Middle High German word "spigel," which similarly refers to a reflective surface. In contemporary usage, "Spiegel" can also denote conceptual reflections, such as in phrases like "Spiegel der Gesellschaft" (mirror of society) or "Spiegelbild" (reflection or image).
Similar words in German include "Reflektor" (reflector) and "Glas" (glass), though "Reflektor" often refers to a specific type of reflective device used in lighting or photography, while "Glas" refers to the material used to create mirrors and other surfaces.
The primary difference is that "Spiegel" specifically refers to a mirror, indicating an object designed for reflection, whereas "Reflektor" may refer to wider applications of reflection in different contexts, and "Glas" is the material itself rather than a reflective object.
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Examples
Ich sehe mich im Spiegel.noun
I see myself in the mirror.
Der Spiegel hängt an der Wand.noun
The mirror hangs on the wall.
Im Badezimmer befindet sich ein großer Spiegel.noun
In the bathroom there is a large mirror.
Wir kaufen heute zwei Spiegel.noun
We are buying two mirrors today.
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