01
der Alarm
alarm
An acoustic or visual signal that warns of immediate danger.
example
Plötzlich ertönte der Feueralarm im ganzen Gebäude.
Suddenly, the fire alarm sounded throughout the whole building.
der Alarm
alarm
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Typical combinations
'Alarm' is often used in fixed compounds to specify the type of danger. Common ones are 'Feueralarm' (fire alarm), 'Einbruchsalarm' (burglar alarm), or 'Fehlalarm' (false alarm).
EXAMPLE
Mitten in der Nacht gab es einen Fehlalarm.
In the middle of the night, there was a false alarm.
Typical verbs
An alarm is 'ausgelöst' (triggered). When it starts, it 'geht los' (goes off) or 'ertönt' (sounds). These verbs are very typical in connection with a warning signal.
EXAMPLE
Durch den Rauch in der Küche wurde der Alarm ausgelöst.
The smoke in the kitchen triggered the alarm.
Fixed expression
The expression 'Alarm schlagen' (to raise the alarm) is a fixed combination. It means that someone actively draws attention to a danger or a major problem.
EXAMPLE
Ärzte schlagen wegen der Zunahme von psychischen Erkrankungen Alarm.
Doctors are raising the alarm about the increase in mental illnesses.
Compare with
Alarm vs Warnung
warning
'die Warnung' and 'der Alarm' both have to do with danger. A warning is a notice that says: It could become dangerous, or there could be a problem. An alarm is usually a signal, for example a loud sound or a light, and indicates immediate danger. Learners may confuse the words because an alarm also warns you. As a practical rule: You can read or hear a warning, often before the danger occurs. An alarm usually happens suddenly and requires a quick reaction.
Alarm
Nach der Arbeit hörten wir im Hausflur den Alarm.
After work, we heard the alarm in the hallway.
Warnung
Die Warnung vor starkem Regen kam schon am Morgen aufs Handy.
The warning about heavy rain arrived on the phone in the morning.
In real life
Loading video examples...