distance
der Abstand, die Abstände
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distance
The spatial or physical distance between two points, people, or objects.
Bitte halten Sie einen Sicherheitsabstand von zwei Metern zum Vordermann.
Please keep a safety distance of two meters from the person in front of you.
by far
An expression used to say that something is by far or clearly better, bigger, worse, etc. than everything else.
Das war mit Abstand der beste Film, den ich dieses Jahr gesehen habe.
That was by far the best film I’ve seen this year.
interval
The time interval between two events or points in time.
Die Briefe kamen in einem Abstand von jeweils zwei Wochen an.
The letters arrived at intervals of two weeks each.
distance
An emotional distance or lack of closeness in a relationship between people.
Nach dem Streit brauchte sie etwas Abstand von ihm.
After the argument, she needed some distance from him.
| gender | masculine der |
|---|---|
| plural | die Abstände |
| genitive | des Abstands |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | der Abstand | die Abstände |
| accusative | den Abstand | die Abstände |
| dative | dem Abstand | den Abständen |
| genitive | des Abstands des Abstandes | der Abstände |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
The word is made up of the prefix 'ab' (separate, away) and the noun 'Stand' (standing/position). Literally, it describes the state of two things standing apart from each other or being at a distance.
Zwischen den beiden Häusern gibt es einen großen Abstand.
There is a large distance between the two houses.
To describe the distance to another object or person, the preposition 'zu' with the dative is almost always used. The phrase is 'Abstand zu etwas/jemandem' (distance to something/someone).
Der Abstand zum vorausfahrenden Auto war zu gering.
The distance to the car in front was too small.
A very common and important combination is 'Abstand halten' (to keep distance). This means maintaining a physical distance and is a central rule in many public spaces.
Im Supermarkt sollten die Kunden an der Kasse Abstand halten.
In the supermarket, customers should keep their distance at the checkout.
The expression 'mit Abstand' (by far) is used like an adverb and often appears at the beginning of a sentence or before the adjective it intensifies. It emphasizes that something is incomparably better, worse, bigger, etc.
Sie ist mit Abstand die schnellste Läuferin im Team.
She is by far the fastest runner on the team.
In a figurative sense, 'Abstand' (distance) is often combined with verbs such as 'brauchen' (to need), 'gewinnen' (to gain), or 'suchen' (to seek) to express an emotional break or distance in a relationship.
Nach dem langen Streit brauchte sie erst einmal etwas Abstand, um nachzudenken.
After the long argument, she first needed some distance to think.
distance / removal
Both words refer to spatial separation. „Abstand“ usually means the space between two things, while „Entfernung“ usually describes the distance from one place or point to another. Use „Abstand“ for two nearby things and „Entfernung“ for a distance between places.
Der Abstand zwischen den beiden Häusern beträgt nur drei Meter.
The distance between the two houses is only three meters.
Die Entfernung vom Dorf zum Bahnhof beträgt drei Kilometer.
The distance from the village to the train station is three kilometers.
