side mirror
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side mirror
A mirror on the outside of a vehicle that allows the driver to see behind and to the side.
Beim Einparken habe ich leider den Außenspiegel des anderen Autos gestreift.
While parking, I unfortunately scraped the side mirror of the other car.
This word is a clear example of a German compound. It is made up of 'außen' (outside) and 'der Spiegel' (the mirror). The '-s-' in between is a linking s, which connects the two words.
Der rechte Außenspiegel ist elektrisch verstellbar.
The right side mirror is electrically adjustable.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with the side mirror. You can 'einstellen' (adjust), 'einklappen' (fold in), 'putzen' (clean), or, in an accident, 'abfahren' (knock off) or 'beschädigen' (damage) it.
Vor der Fahrt solltest du immer deine Außenspiegel richtig einstellen.
Before driving, you should always adjust your side mirrors properly.
When describing that you use the mirror to see something, German uses the preposition 'in' with the accusative. The typical phrase is 'in den Außenspiegel schauen' (to look in the side mirror).
Der Fahrer schaute kurz in den Außenspiegel, bevor er die Spur wechselte.
The driver briefly looked in the side mirror before changing lanes.
rearview mirror
Rückspiegel and Außenspiegel allow the driver to see the traffic behind the vehicle. Rückspiegel refers to this function and often means the mirror inside the vehicle. Außenspiegel is more specific: it refers to a mirror mounted on the outside, at the side of the vehicle, which also shows the area beside it.
Sie blickt in den Außenspiegel an der linken Fahrzeugtür.
She looks in the side mirror on the left-hand door.
Sie blickt in den Rückspiegel über der Mitte der Windschutzscheibe.
She looks in the rearview mirror above the center of the windshield.
