turnoff / branch
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turnoff / branch
A place where a road, path, or line branches off from a main route. It is a smaller connection leading away from it.
Nach der Brücke müssen Sie den nächsten Abzweig rechts nehmen.
After the bridge, you need to take the next turnoff on the right.
The noun 'der Abzweig' (turnoff/branch) derives directly from the separable verb 'abzweigen' (to branch off). A 'Zweig' is the branch of a tree. So the idea is that a road 'branches off' from a tree trunk like a branch.
Hier zweigt ein kleiner Weg vom Hauptweg ab.
Here, a small path branches off from the main path.
You can tell from the context whether a road turnoff or a technical branch is meant. Words like 'Straße' (road), 'Weg' (path), or 'Autobahn' (highway) point to traffic. Terms like 'Kabel' (cable), 'Leitung' (line), or 'Rohr' (pipe) indicate the technical meaning.
Nehmen Sie den nächsten Abzweig links, um zum See zu gelangen.
Take the next turnoff on the left to get to the lake.
In road traffic, 'Abzweig' (turnoff) is often combined with the verb 'nehmen' (to take). You can also 'verpassen' (miss) a turnoff if you are not paying attention.
Wir haben den richtigen Abzweig verpasst und müssen jetzt umdrehen.
We missed the right turnoff and now have to turn around.
connection
'der Anschluss' and 'der Abzweig' can both refer to a connection in a technical system. 'Anschluss' is used when something is connected to a network or supply, for example electricity, water, or the internet. 'Abzweig' more often means the point where a line, cable, or also a path leads away from a main route. They can be confused because both have to do with connections. In practice: an 'Anschluss' connects something to the network; an 'Abzweig' leads from a main line or main route in another direction.
Hinter der Kreuzung nehmen wir den kleinen Abzweig nach rechts.
After the intersection, we take the small turnoff to the right.
Der neue Anschluss für das Internet funktioniert seit heute Morgen.
The new internet connection has been working since this morning.