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Vocab: Science & technology — B2
Science & technology vocabulary at B2 level.
Maskulin Feminin Neutrum Plural
die Atomenergie — nuclear energy, nuclear power
Atomenergie is normally a mass noun and has no plural in everyday German. In discussions about energy policy, it often means nuclear power as an industry or source of electricity.
Atomenergie liefert viel Strom.
Nuclear energy supplies a lot of electricity.
liefert means supplies, and viel Strom means a lot of electricity. Atomenergie is nominative because it is the subject; the finite verb liefert stands in position two.
Viele Menschen lehnen Atomenergie ab.
Many people reject nuclear energy.
viele Menschen means many people, and lehnen ... ab means reject. Atomenergie is accusative because ablehnen takes a direct object; the separable verb has lehnen in position two and ab at the end.
Die Regierung gibt der Atomenergie eine neue Chance.
The government is giving nuclear energy a new chance.
die Regierung means the government, and eine neue Chance means a new chance. Der Atomenergie is dative because geben gives something to someone or something, while eine neue Chance is the accusative thing being given.
Die Zukunft der Atomenergie bleibt umstritten.
The future of nuclear energy remains controversial.
die Zukunft means the future, and umstritten means controversial. Der Atomenergie is genitive because it specifies whose future is meant; the finite verb bleibt is in position two.
durchlässig — permeable, porous; transparent
Durchlässig is used for materials that let water, air, or light pass through. With für, the thing that can pass through is named: durchlässig für Wasser means permeable to water.
Das Material ist durchlässig.
The material is permeable.
das Material means the material. Durchlässig is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; it describes whether the material allows something to pass through.
Wir brauchen einen durchlässigen Stoff für den Filter.
We need a permeable material for the filter.
brauchen means need, der Stoff is the material or fabric, and der Filter is the filter. Einen durchlässigen Stoff is accusative because brauchen takes an accusative object; the adjective has -en after einen.
Dieses Papier ist durchlässiger als das andere.
This paper is more permeable than the other one.
dieses Papier means this paper and das andere means the other one. Durchlässiger compares two papers and is followed by als; as a predicative adjective, it has no case ending.
Von allen Stoffen ist dieses Gewebe am durchlässigsten.
Of all the materials, this fabric is the most permeable.
von allen Stoffen means of all materials, and dieses Gewebe is this fabric. Am durchlässigsten is the predicative superlative; von takes the dative, shown by plural Stoffen.
die Erforschung — research, investigation, exploration
The singular is often uncountable when it means research in general. The plural Erforschungen refers to separate investigations or research projects.
Die Erforschung des Weltraums fasziniert viele Menschen.
The exploration of space fascinates many people.
der Weltraum means outer space and viele Menschen means many people. Die Erforschung is nominative because it is the subject, while des Weltraums is genitive and means “of space”; the finite verb fasziniert stands in position two.
Viele Länder unterstützen die Erforschung des Klimas.
Many countries support climate research.
viele Länder means many countries, unterstützen means support, and das Klima is the climate. die Erforschung is accusative because unterstützen takes an accusative object; des Klimas is genitive, meaning “of the climate”.
Die Universität widmet sich der Erforschung seltener Krankheiten.
The university is devoted to researching rare diseases.
die Universität is the university and seltene Krankheiten are rare diseases. sich widmen requires the dative, so der Erforschung is dative; seltener Krankheiten is genitive and means “of rare diseases”.
Die Ergebnisse der Erforschung sind beeindruckend.
The results of the research are impressive.
die Ergebnisse means the results and beeindruckend means impressive. der Erforschung is genitive because it identifies whose results they are; the whole phrase Die Ergebnisse der Erforschung is the nominative subject.
Neue Erforschungen des Meeres verändern unser Wissen.
New investigations of the sea are changing our knowledge.
neue Erforschungen means new investigations, das Meer is the sea, and unser Wissen is our knowledge. Erforschungen is plural nominative as the subject, while des Meeres is genitive; the finite verb verändern is in position two.
die Erkenntnis — insight; realization; finding
Erkenntnis is a formal noun for an insight or realization, often based on thought, experience, or research. Its plural is Erkenntnisse, not Erkenntnisen.
Die Erkenntnis kam erst nach vielen Jahren.
The insight only came after many years.
erst means only or not until, and viele Jahre means many years. Die Erkenntnis is nominative because it is the subject; nach vielen Jahren is a time phrase with nach, which takes the dative.
Diese Erkenntnis verändert meine Sicht auf das Problem.
This insight changes my view of the problem.
verändern means to change, meine Sicht means my view, and das Problem means the problem. Diese Erkenntnis is accusative because verändert takes it as its direct object; auf das Problem uses the accusative because it specifies the target of the view.
Mit dieser Erkenntnis kann das Team besser arbeiten.
With this insight, the team can work better.
das Team means team, besser means better, and arbeiten means to work. Mit dieser Erkenntnis is dative because mit always takes the dative; kann is in position two and arbeiten goes to the end.
Die Bedeutung der Erkenntnis wird oft unterschätzt.
The importance of the insight is often underestimated.
die Bedeutung means importance, oft means often, and unterschätzen means to underestimate. Der Erkenntnis is genitive because it identifies whose importance is meant; wird ... unterschätzt is a passive construction with the Partizip II at the end.
Neue Erkenntnisse helfen bei der Lösung des Problems.
New insights help with solving the problem.
neu means new, helfen means to help, die Lösung means solution, and das Problem means problem. Neue Erkenntnisse is plural nominative because it is the subject, while bei der Lösung is dative after bei and des Problems is genitive inside the noun phrase.
fortschrittlich — progressive, forward-thinking
This adjective often describes politics, technology or social ideas. It is more positive and change-oriented than simply modern.
Die neue Methode ist fortschrittlich.
The new method is progressive.
Die neue Methode means the new method. fortschrittlich is predicative after ist, so it has no adjective ending; ist stands in position two.
Sie unterstützt eine fortschrittliche Politik.
She supports progressive politics.
unterstützt means supports, and Politik means politics or policy. eine fortschrittliche Politik is accusative because unterstützen takes a direct object; the feminine adjective takes -e after eine.
Diese Lösung ist fortschrittlicher als die alte.
This solution is more progressive than the old one.
Lösung means solution, and die alte means the old one. The comparative is formed with -er and followed by als; after ist, it has no adjective ending.
Dieses Land ist politisch am fortschrittlichsten.
This country is the most progressive politically.
Dieses Land means this country, and politisch means politically. am fortschrittlichsten is the predicative am-superlative and therefore has no noun ending.
das Kraftwerk — power station, power plant
A Kraftwerk can use coal, gas, water, wind or another source to produce Strom. The compound combines Kraft, power, with Werk, works or plant.
Das Kraftwerk produziert Strom.
The power station produces electricity.
produziert means produces and Strom means electricity. Das Kraftwerk is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb produziert stands in position two.
Die Stadt baut ein neues Kraftwerk.
The city is building a new power station.
die Stadt is the city, baut means builds, and neu means new. Ein neues Kraftwerk is accusative because bauen takes a direct object; the adjective has the ending -es after ein with a neuter noun.
Viele Menschen wohnen neben dem Kraftwerk.
Many people live next to the power station.
viele Menschen means many people, wohnen means live, and neben means next to. Dem Kraftwerk is dative because neben describes a fixed location here; the finite verb wohnen is in position two.
Der Bau des Kraftwerks kostet viel Geld.
The construction of the power station costs a lot of money.
der Bau is the construction, kostet means costs, and viel Geld means a lot of money. Des Kraftwerks is genitive because it identifies which construction is meant; the noun takes -s in this form.
In Deutschland gibt es viele Kraftwerke.
There are many power stations in Germany.
in Deutschland means in Germany, viele means many, and gibt es means there are. Viele Kraftwerke is accusative because the fixed expression es gibt takes an accusative object, although its English translation uses there are.
die Metallindustrie — metal industry
This compound combines Metall (metal) and Industrie (industry). It usually refers to the economic sector as a whole; the plural Metallindustrien refers to metal industries in different countries or regions.
Die Metallindustrie beschäftigt viele Menschen.
The metal industry employs many people.
beschäftigen means to employ and viele Menschen means many people. Die Metallindustrie is nominative because it is the subject, while viele Menschen is accusative as the object of beschäftigt.
Die Regierung unterstützt die Metallindustrie.
The government supports the metal industry.
die Regierung means the government and unterstützen means to support. die Metallindustrie is accusative because unterstützen takes a direct object, and unterstützt stands in position two.
Viele Fachkräfte arbeiten in der Metallindustrie.
Many skilled workers work in the metal industry.
viele Fachkräfte means many skilled workers and arbeiten means to work. der Metallindustrie is dative because in describes a location here; viele Fachkräfte is the plural nominative subject.
Die Zukunft der Metallindustrie hängt von neuen Technologien ab.
The future of the metal industry depends on new technologies.
die Zukunft means the future, abhängen von means to depend on, and neue Technologien means new technologies. der Metallindustrie is genitive after die Zukunft to show possession; von neuen Technologien is dative after von, and hängt ... ab is a separable verb.
In Europa wachsen mehrere Metallindustrien.
Several metal industries are growing in Europe.
Europa means Europe, wachsen means to grow, and mehrere means several. Metallindustrien is plural and is the nominative subject; in Europa is a location phrase, and the plural form adds -en to Industrie.
die Pharmaindustrie — pharmaceutical industry
Pharmaindustrie is a compound of Pharma (pharmaceuticals) and Industrie (industry). It refers to the sector as a whole; an individual business is das Pharmaunternehmen.
Die Pharmaindustrie investiert viel Geld in Forschung.
The pharmaceutical industry invests a lot of money in research.
investiert means invests, viel Geld means a lot of money, and Forschung means research. Die Pharmaindustrie is nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb investiert stands in position two.
Die Regierung kritisiert die Pharmaindustrie.
The government criticises the pharmaceutical industry.
die Regierung means the government and kritisiert means criticises. Die Pharmaindustrie is accusative because kritisieren takes a direct object; its feminine article looks the same in nominative and accusative.
Viele Fachkräfte arbeiten in der Pharmaindustrie.
Many skilled workers work in the pharmaceutical industry.
viele Fachkräfte means many skilled workers and arbeiten means work. In takes the dative here because it describes a fixed place or sector, so der Pharmaindustrie is dative; the verb arbeiten is in position two.
Die Produkte der Pharmaindustrie sind oft teuer.
The products of the pharmaceutical industry are often expensive.
die Produkte means the products, oft means often, and teuer means expensive. Der Pharmaindustrie is genitive after die Produkte to show ownership or origin; sind stands in position two.
In Europa gibt es mehrere Pharmaindustrien.
There are several pharmaceutical industries in Europe.
in Europa means in Europe, gibt es means there are, and mehrere means several. Pharmaindustrien is plural after mehrere; in the fixed structure es gibt, the thing that exists is accusative.
Die Pharmaindustrie entwickelt neue Medikamente.
The pharmaceutical industry develops new medicines.
entwickelt means develops and neue Medikamente means new medicines. Die Pharmaindustrie is the nominative subject, while neue Medikamente is accusative as the direct object; the finite verb is in position two.
portieren — to port, to adapt software
Portieren is a technical verb used mainly for software and programs. It normally takes an accusative object, often with auf plus the target platform.
Das Team portiert die App auf ein neues Betriebssystem.
The team is porting the app to a new operating system.
das Team means the team, die App means the app, and ein neues Betriebssystem means a new operating system. Die App is accusative because portieren takes the thing being adapted as a direct object, and the finite verb portiert is in position two.
Wir haben die Software auf Linux portiert.
We ported the software to Linux.
die Software means the software, and auf Linux means to Linux as a target platform. The perfect uses haben, with portiert at the end of the clause; die Software is accusative because it is the direct object.
Im letzten Jahr portierte sie das Spiel für Handys.
Last year she ported the game for mobile phones.
im letzten Jahr means last year, das Spiel means the game, and Handys means mobile phones. The regular Präteritum form portierte is in position two, while das Spiel is accusative as the direct object.
Portier das Programm bitte auf die neue Plattform!
Please port the program to the new platform!
das Programm means the program, bitte means please, and die neue Plattform means the new platform. Portier is the du imperative; the program is accusative because it is the object being adapted.
Wenn ich mehr Zeit hätte, portierte ich das Programm selbst.
If I had more time, I would port the program myself.
wenn means if, mehr Zeit means more time, and selbst means myself or personally. In the wenn-clause, the finite verb hätte goes to the end; das Programm is accusative, and portierte expresses the unreal result.
Nächstes Jahr werden wir die Anwendung auf ein neues System portieren.
Next year we will port the application to a new system.
nächstes Jahr means next year, die Anwendung means the application, and ein neues System means a new system. Futur I uses werden in position two and the infinitive portieren at the end; die Anwendung is accusative.
die Regulierung — regulation; adjustment; adjustment; control
In everyday and official language, Regulierung usually refers to rules imposed to control something. For the physical or technical setting of something, it can also mean adjustment.
Die Regulierung des Marktes schützt kleine Unternehmen.
Regulation of the market protects small businesses.
der Markt means the market, schützen means to protect, and kleine Unternehmen means small businesses. Die Regulierung is nominative because it is the subject, while des Marktes is genitive because it identifies what is regulated; the finite verb schützt is in position two.
Die Regierung plant eine neue Regulierung für soziale Medien.
The government is planning a new regulation for social media.
die Regierung means the government, plant means is planning, neu means new, and soziale Medien means social media. eine neue Regulierung is accusative because planen takes an accusative object; the finite verb plant stands in position two.
Viele Firmen widersprechen der Regulierung.
Many companies object to the regulation.
viele Firmen means many companies, and widersprechen means to object to or contradict. der Regulierung is dative because widersprechen governs the dative; the finite verb widersprechen is in position two.
Die Folgen der Regulierung sind noch unklar.
The consequences of the regulation are still unclear.
die Folgen means the consequences, noch means still, and unklar means unclear. der Regulierung is genitive because it specifies whose consequences they are; the finite verb sind is in position two.
Strenge Regulierungen gelten für Banken.
Strict regulations apply to banks.
strenge means strict, gelten means apply or be valid, and Banken means banks. Strenge Regulierungen is plural nominative because it is the subject, and the finite verb gelten agrees with the plural.
Die technische Regulierung eines Geräts dauert nur wenige Minuten.
The technical adjustment of a device takes only a few minutes.
technisch means technical, ein Gerät is a device, dauern means to take time, and wenige Minuten means a few minutes. eines Geräts is genitive after the noun Regulierung, and the finite verb dauert is in position two.
Die automatische Regulierung der Temperatur spart Energie.
Automatic temperature control saves energy.
automatisch means automatic, die Temperatur means the temperature, sparen means to save, and Energie means energy. der Temperatur is genitive after Regulierung, while the finite verb spart is in position two.
Eine gute Regulierung sorgt für gleichmäßige Beleuchtung.
Good adjustment ensures even lighting.
gut means good, sorgen für means to ensure or provide, gleichmäßig means even, and Beleuchtung means lighting. Eine gute Regulierung is nominative as the subject, and für takes the accusative in für gleichmäßige Beleuchtung.
die Stanze — punch, die-cutting tool
In everyday technical German, die Stanze is a punch or machine for cutting and shaping material. It is a technical word, so beginners may meet die Stanze more often in factory or workshop contexts than in general conversation.
Die Stanze steht in der Werkstatt.
The punch is in the workshop.
stehen means to stand or be located, and die Werkstatt means the workshop. Die Stanze is nominative because it is the subject; steht is the finite verb in position two.
Der Arbeiter benutzt die Stanze.
The worker uses the punch.
der Arbeiter means the worker, and benutzen means to use. Die Stanze is accusative because benutzen takes a direct object; with a feminine noun, the article die is the same in nominative and accusative.
Mit der Stanze lassen sich kleine Teile herstellen.
Small parts can be produced with the punch.
mit means with, kleine Teile means small parts, and herstellen means to produce. Der Stanze is dative because mit always takes the dative; lassen sich herstellen is a common way to say that something can be produced.
Die Form der Stanze bestimmt das Ergebnis.
The shape of the punch determines the result.
die Form means the shape, bestimmen means to determine, and das Ergebnis means the result. Der Stanze is genitive because it identifies which tool’s shape is meant; bestimmt is in position two.
Die Fabrik kauft neue Stanzen.
The factory is buying new punches.
die Fabrik means the factory, kaufen means to buy, and neu means new. Stanzen is the plural of die Stanze and is accusative because kauft takes a direct object; the adjective has -e after the plural article neue.
Die Mechaniker prüfen die Stanze vor jedem Einsatz.
The mechanics inspect the punch before every use.
die Mechaniker means the mechanics, prüfen means to inspect, vor means before, and jeder Einsatz means every use or operation. Die Stanze is accusative after prüfen; jedem Einsatz is dative because vor takes the dative for time.
statistisch — statistical
Statistisch normally describes data, methods or analyses rather than people. Its comparison forms statistischer and am statistischsten are grammatically possible but uncommon unless a comparison is intended.
Die Aussage ist statistisch belegt.
The statement is statistically supported.
die Aussage means the statement, and belegt means supported or documented. Statistisch is predicative after ist and therefore has no adjective ending; ist belegt describes the statement’s condition.
Wir untersuchen statistische Daten.
We are analysing statistical data.
wir means we, untersuchen means analyse, and die Daten means the data. Statistische stands before the plural accusative object Daten and takes -e after the zero article.
Diese Methode ist statistischer als die alte Methode.
This method is more statistical than the old method.
diese Methode means this method, als means than, and die alte Methode means the old method. Statistischer is the comparative predicate after ist; als introduces the thing used for comparison.
Das ist die statistischste Erklärung von allen.
That is the most statistical explanation of all.
die Erklärung means the explanation, and von allen means of all of them. Statistischste comes before a feminine noun with the definite article and therefore has the ending -e; this attributive form differs from predicative am statistischsten.
der Zünder — igniter, detonator; match
This technical word can mean an igniter or a detonator, depending on the device. It is not the same as Zündung, which means ignition or the act of starting a combustion process.
Der Zünder wurde vorsichtig eingebaut.
The detonator was installed carefully.
vorsichtig means carefully and eingebaut means installed. Der Zünder is nominative because it is the subject of the passive sentence; the finite verb wurde is in position two and the participle eingebaut goes to the end.
Der Techniker prüft den Zünder.
The technician is checking the detonator.
der Techniker is the technician and prüft means checks. Den Zünder is accusative because prüfen takes a direct object; the finite verb prüft stands in position two.
Der Techniker vertraut dem Zünder nicht.
The technician does not trust the detonator.
vertraut means trusts and nicht means not. Dem Zünder is dative because vertrauen governs the dative; the separable or final-position trap does not apply here, and the finite verb is in position two.
Die Funktion des Zünders ist unbekannt.
The function of the detonator is unknown.
die Funktion means the function and unbekannt means unknown. Des Zünders is genitive because it identifies whose function is meant; the finite verb ist is in position two.
Mehrere Zünder lagen in der Kiste.
Several detonators were lying in the box.
mehrere means several, lagen means were lying, and die Kiste is the box. Zünder has the same form in the singular and plural, but mehrere shows that it is plural; the finite verb lagen is in position two.
Sie strich ein Zündholz an.
She struck a match.
sie means she and anstreichen here means to strike a match. Ein Zündholz is accusative because anstreichen takes a direct object; the separable verb appears as strich ... an, with the finite part in position two and an at the end.
Die Zündhölzer liegen neben dem Herd.
The matches are lying next to the cooker.
liegen means are lying, neben means next to, and der Herd is the cooker or stove. Zündhölzer is the plural of Zündholz; dem Herd is dative because neben describes a location here.