belly button
Loading your saved state.
belly button
The small, visible scar in the middle of the abdomen that forms after birth when the umbilical cord is cut.
Babys haben nach der Geburt noch einen Rest der Nabelschnur am Bauchnabel.
After birth, babies still have a remnant of the umbilical cord at their belly button.
The word is made up of 'der Bauch' (belly) and 'der Nabel' (navel). Although 'Nabel' alone is already sufficient, the form 'Bauchnabel' is very common in everyday language. The article 'der' comes from the base word 'Nabel'.
Er hat sich einen kleinen Delfin über dem Bauchnabel tätowieren lassen.
He had a small dolphin tattooed above his belly button.
The 'Bauchnabel' (belly button) is the place where 'die Nabelschnur' (the umbilical cord) was attached before birth. Both words share the stem 'Nabel' and belong to the same word family.
Die Nabelschnur wird nach der Geburt am Bauchnabel des Kindes durchtrennt.
The umbilical cord is cut at the child’s belly button after birth.
In modern usage, the word is often connected with body jewelry. Typical phrases are 'ein Bauchnabelpiercing haben' (to have a belly button piercing) or 'sich den Bauchnabel piercen lassen' (to get one’s belly button pierced).
Viele junge Leute wünschen sich ein Piercing im Bauchnabel.
Many young people want a piercing in their belly button.
navel
'der Nabel' and 'der Bauchnabel' mean the same thing on the body: the small spot in the middle of the abdomen. 'Bauchnabel' is especially clear and common in everyday speech, because it immediately shows which body part is meant. 'Nabel' sounds a bit more general or medical, and it also appears in fixed expressions, for example 'der Nabel der Welt'. The words can be confused because they are synonymous when talking about the body. If you are simply talking about the body, 'Bauchnabel' is usually the more natural choice.
Nach dem Duschen trocknet Clara ihren Bauchnabel vorsichtig ab.
After showering, Clara carefully dries her belly button.
Die Ärztin untersucht den Nabel, weil die Haut dort gerötet ist.
The doctor examines the navel because the skin there is red.