01
anal
In anatomy and medicine: relating to the anus, belonging to the anus.
example
Bei der Untersuchung wurde eine anale Fissur festgestellt.
During the examination, an anal fissure was found.
anal
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context is crucial
The meaning of 'anal' (anal) depends entirely on the context. In a medical or biological setting, it refers to the body. In everyday psychology or colloquial language, it describes a character trait.
EXAMPLE
Der Arzt stellte eine anale Blutung fest.
The doctor found anal bleeding.
Medical technical term
In this meaning, 'anal' (anal) is a technical term from medicine and anatomy. It is used in a formal, scientific, or clinical context and is not part of everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Die anale Untersuchung ist Teil der Vorsorge.
The anal examination is part of preventive care.
Colloquial use
Colloquially, 'anal' (anal) describes, in a derogatory or joking way, a person with an excessive sense of order or stinginess. This use is informal and can be perceived as rude.
EXAMPLE
Er putzt seine Wohnung jeden Tag, er ist da total anal.
He cleans his apartment every day; he's totally anal about that.
Compare with
anal vs geizig
stingy
'anal' and 'geizig' can both refer colloquially to behavior that seems very controlled or sparing. The difference is important: 'geizig' clearly means that someone is reluctant to spend money or does not want to share. It is negative, but clear and direct. 'anal' originally comes from psychoanalysis and, as a description of people, is colloquial, often hurtful, and imprecise. It can mean an exaggerated sense of order, or sometimes also stinginess. Learners may confuse the words because 'anal' sometimes goes in a similar direction in this colloquial meaning. In normal German, it is better to say 'geizig' when talking about money or sharing; 'anal' is usually too casual and risky for that.
anal
Im Streit nannte er ihren Umgang mit Geld anal, aber danach entschuldigte er sich.
During the argument, he called her way of handling money anal, but afterward he apologized.
geizig
Meine Kollegin ist mit Lob sehr geizig, auch wenn das Team gute Arbeit macht.
My colleague is very stingy with praise, even when the team does good work.
In real life
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