die Brücke
bridge
A structure built to cross an obstacle such as a river, valley, or road.
EXAMPLE
Die neue Brücke über den Fluss verkürzt die Fahrzeit um 20 Minuten.
The new bridge over the river shortens the driving time by 20 minutes.
die Brücke
bridge
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Meanings
die Brücke
bridge
A metaphorical connection between two different things, ideas, groups, or points in time.
EXAMPLE
Übersetzer bauen eine Brücke zwischen verschiedenen Kulturen.
Translators build a bridge between different cultures.
die Brücke
bridge
The command station on a ship from which the ship is steered and navigated.
EXAMPLE
Der Kapitän stand auf der Brücke und gab seine Befehle.
The captain stood on the bridge and gave his orders.
die Brücke
bridge day
A single workday that falls between a public holiday and the weekend and that people take off in order to have a long weekend. Usually referred to as 'Brückentag'.
EXAMPLE
Da der Feiertag auf einen Donnerstag fällt, nehmen sich viele für den Freitag eine Brücke.
Since the public holiday falls on a Thursday, many people take Friday as a bridge day.
die Brücke
dental bridge
A fixed dental prosthesis that closes one or more gaps between teeth by being attached to the neighboring teeth.
EXAMPLE
Der Zahnarzt riet mir, die Zahnlücke mit einer Brücke zu versorgen.
The dentist advised me to treat the gap with a dental bridge.
die Brücke
bridge
A gymnastics exercise in which you arch backward on your hands and feet so that your body forms a curve.
EXAMPLE
Im Turnunterricht haben wir gelernt, eine Brücke zu machen.
In gymnastics class, we learned how to do a bridge.
Usage tips
Typical prepositions
With a real bridge, the preposition is important. You drive or walk 'über die Brücke' (across the bridge; direction, accusative). Something is located 'unter der Brücke' (under the bridge; location, dative).
EXAMPLE
Wir sind mit dem Fahrrad über die alte Holzbrücke gefahren.
We rode our bikes across the old wooden bridge.
Metaphorical expression
In the figurative meaning, the expressions 'eine Brücke bauen' (to build a bridge) or 'eine Brücke schlagen' (to bridge a gap / establish a connection) are often used. This means creating a connection between two opposing positions, groups, or ideas.
EXAMPLE
Der Diplomat versuchte, eine Brücke zwischen den beiden verfeindeten Ländern zu bauen.
The diplomat tried to build a bridge between the two hostile countries.
The bridge day
When a single workday falls between a public holiday and the weekend, it is called 'der Brückentag' (bridge day). The act of taking that day off is colloquially called 'eine Brücke machen' or 'eine Brücke nehmen' (to take a bridge day).
EXAMPLE
Weil der 1. Mai ein Dienstag ist, nehme ich mir am Montag einen Brückentag.
Because May 1 is a Tuesday, I'm taking Monday as a bridge day.
Context clue: dentistry
In a dental context, you can recognize this meaning from words like 'Zahnarzt' (dentist), 'Zahnlücke' (gap between teeth), 'einsetzen' (to insert/fit), or 'bekommen' (to get). Here, a 'Brücke' (bridge) is a fixed dental prosthesis.
EXAMPLE
Der Zahnarzt hat mir empfohlen, die Lücke mit einer Brücke zu schließen.
The dentist recommended closing the gap with a dental bridge.
Fixed expression in sports
The gymnastics exercise is almost always used in the fixed expression 'eine Brücke machen' (to do a bridge). The verb describes performing the exercise.
EXAMPLE
Im Sportunterricht üben die Kinder, eine Brücke zu machen.
In PE class, the children practice doing a bridge.
Context clues
The many meanings of 'Brücke' (bridge) are usually clear from context. Watch for signal words: 'Fluss' (river) or 'Straße' (road) for the structure, 'Kulturen' (cultures) for the metaphor, 'Kapitän' (captain) for a ship, 'Zahnarzt' (dentist) for teeth, or 'Turnen' (gymnastics) for the exercise.
EXAMPLE
Der Kapitän stand auf der Brücke und blickte auf das Meer.
The captain stood on the bridge and looked out at the sea.
Compare with
Brücke vs Verbindung
connection / association
Verbindung refers here to an existing social relationship between groups. Brücke is more figurative and emphasizes that a separation is actively overcome or that new contact is made possible. Verbindung fits the relationship itself; Brücke is often more apt for an action that serves as a bridge between people or groups.
Brücke
Das gemeinsame Fest baut eine Brücke zwischen den beiden Vereinen.
The joint festival is building a bridge between the two clubs.
Verbindung
Zwischen den beiden Vereinen besteht seit Jahren eine enge Verbindung.
There has been a close connection between the two clubs for years.
In real life
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