alarm system
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alarm system
A technical system that triggers an acoustic or visual signal in the event of a specific incident, such as a break-in, fire, or another emergency, in order to warn people or call for help.
Als der Einbrecher das Fenster aufbrach, ging sofort die Alarmanlage los.
When the burglar forced the window open, the alarm system immediately went off.
The word is made up of 'der Alarm' (alarm) and 'die Anlage' (system/installation). In this context, 'Anlage' means 'system' or 'installation'. Literally, it is therefore an 'alarm system'.
Eine moderne Alarmanlage kann die Polizei automatisch benachrichtigen.
A modern alarm system can notify the police automatically.
To describe that the alarm starts, you use the verbs 'losgehen' (to go off) or 'ausgelöst werden' (to be triggered). The phrase 'die Alarmanlage geht los' (the alarm system goes off) is very common.
Mitten in der Nacht ging plötzlich die Alarmanlage des Autos los.
In the middle of the night, the car's alarm system suddenly went off.
When people operate the alarm system, the typical verbs are 'installieren' (to install) or 'einbauen' (to have installed/build in), as well as 'einschalten' (to switch on) or 'ausschalten' (to switch off).
Vergiss nicht, die Alarmanlage einzuschalten, bevor du das Haus verlässt.
Don't forget to switch on the alarm system before you leave the house.
alarm
'der Alarm' and 'die Alarmanlage' belong together, but they mean different things. 'der Alarm' is the signal or the state of danger, for example a loud sound or a warning. 'die Alarmanlage' is the technical system that can trigger an alarm. Learners can easily confuse the words because both often occur with break-ins, fires, or emergencies. Put simply: the 'Alarmanlage' is the device or system; the 'Alarm' is the signal or warning.
Im Büro wird morgen eine neue Alarmanlage eingebaut.
A new alarm system will be installed in the office tomorrow.
In der Nacht hörten alle Nachbarn den lauten Alarm.
During the night, all the neighbors heard the loud alarm.