01
das Auge
eye
The sensory organ with which humans and animals can see.
example
Er hat strahlend blaue Augen.
He has bright blue eyes.
das Auge
eye
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Metaphorical logic
Many figurative meanings of 'Auge' (eye) derive from the idea of a small, round opening or a central point. Examples include the 'Auge' (eye) of a needle or the 'Auge' (eye) of a storm.
EXAMPLE
Im Auge des Orkans war es plötzlich windstill.
In the eye of the storm, it was suddenly windless.
Common compounds
'Auge' (eye) is a very productive word in compound nouns. Very common examples include 'Augenblick' (moment), 'Augenarzt' (eye doctor), and 'Augenbraue' (eyebrow).
EXAMPLE
Warte bitte einen Augenblick, ich bin gleich fertig.
Please wait a moment; I'll be finished in a second.
Fixed idioms
The word 'Auge' (eye) is part of many idioms. 'Ein Auge zudrücken' means to deliberately overlook a mistake, and 'jemanden aus den Augen verlieren' means to lose contact with someone.
EXAMPLE
Der Lehrer hat bei dem kleinen Fehler ein Auge zugedrückt.
The teacher turned a blind eye to the small mistake.
Verbs with prepositions
There are fixed verb-preposition combinations with 'Auge' (eye). 'Etwas im Auge behalten' means to keep an eye on something, and 'etwas ins Auge fassen' means to seriously consider something.
EXAMPLE
Wir sollten die Kosten für das Projekt genau im Auge behalten.
We should keep a close eye on the costs for the project.
Context clue
You can always recognize the meaning 'Nadelöhr' (eye of the needle) from the context. The word is used almost exclusively together with 'Nadel' (needle) or 'Faden' (thread).
EXAMPLE
Meine Großmutter kann ohne Brille den Faden nicht mehr durchs Auge der Nadel fädeln.
My grandmother can no longer thread the thread through the eye of the needle without glasses.
Context: games
The meaning 'Punkte auf einem Würfel' (dots on a die) is used only in the context of games. You will often hear it together with the verb 'würfeln' (to roll dice).
EXAMPLE
Du brauchst mindestens vier Augen, um zu gewinnen.
You need at least four points to win.
Using the expression
The idiom 'ein Auge auf jemanden/etwas werfen' (to have one's eye on someone/something) always uses the accusative for the person or thing one is interested in.
EXAMPLE
Mein Kollege hat ein Auge auf die neue Abteilungsleiterin geworfen.
My colleague has his eye on the new department manager.
Compare with
Auge vs Blick
look / view
'das Auge' and 'der Blick' are both connected to seeing, but they mean different things. The eye is the body part you see with. 'der Blick' is the way, direction, or brief action of looking. So you can use your eyes to take a look at something: 'einen Blick auf etwas werfen' (to take a look at something). Learners confuse the words because both often appear in sentences about seeing. The important point is: 'Auge' means the organ, while 'Blick' means looking or the expression on someone's face.
Auge
Nach dem Schwimmen tut mir das rechte Auge weh.
After swimming, my right eye hurts.
Blick
Herr Hofmann wirft einen kurzen Blick auf die Speisekarte.
Mr. Hofmann takes a quick look at the menu.
In real life
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