basketball
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basketball
A sport in which two teams try to throw a ball into the opponent's basket.
In seiner Freizeit spielt er am liebsten Basketball mit seinen Freunden.
In his free time, he likes playing basketball with his friends best.
The word 'Basketball' (basketball) was taken directly from English. It is made up of 'basket' (der Korb) and 'ball' (der Ball).
Ziel des Spiels ist es, den Ball in den Korb zu werfen.
The aim of the game is to throw the ball into the basket.
You can often tell whether the sport or the ball is meant from the verb and the article. 'Basketball spielen' (to play basketball), without an article, refers to the sport. When talking about the ball as an object, an article is usually used, e.g. 'den Basketball werfen' (to throw the basketball).
Wir spielen jeden Samstag Basketball im Park.
We play basketball in the park every Saturday.
When 'Basketball' (basketball) refers to the sport, it is used with the verb 'spielen' (to play) without an article. This pattern applies to most sports in German.
Mein Bruder spielt professionell Basketball.
My brother plays basketball professionally.
When the ball is meant, 'Basketball' (basketball) is often combined with verbs of movement. Typical ones are: 'den Basketball werfen' (to throw the basketball), 'dribbeln' (to dribble), 'fangen' (to catch), or 'prellen' (to bounce).
Er hat den Basketball mit einer Hand gefangen.
He caught the basketball with one hand.
ball
'Ball' and 'Basketball' can both mean a round piece of sports equipment. 'Ball' is the general word for many games and sports. 'Basketball' is more specific: it can mean the sport or the special ball used in basketball. The words can be confused because a basketball is, of course, also a ball. If you mean the sport or the specific ball, you say 'Basketball'. If the type of ball does not matter or is not known, 'Ball' is enough.
Nach der Schule hat sie einen neuen Basketball für das Training gekauft.
After school, she bought a new basketball for training.
Im Park rollt ein Ball unter die Bank.
In the park, a ball rolls under the bench.