bureau
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bureau
An outdated or elevated spelling of 'Büro' (office), which today is found almost only in the proper names of organizations or for certain official bodies.
Das Internationale Bureau für Maße und Gewichte legt weltweit gültige Standards fest.
The International Bureau of Weights and Measures sets standards that apply worldwide.
'Bureau' is the original French spelling. In modern German, it is considered outdated or very elevated. You find it less often than the modern form 'Büro' (office).
In dem alten Roman ging der Detektiv in sein Bureau zurück.
In the old novel, the detective went back to his bureau.
In the meaning 'Amt' (office/authority) or 'Agentur' (agency), the spelling 'Bureau' survives today almost only in official proper names of mostly international organizations.
Er arbeitet für das „Internationale Bureau für geistiges Eigentum“.
He works for the 'International Bureau of Intellectual Property'.
As a term for a writing desk, 'Bureau' is very outdated. You mainly read or hear it when the topic is antique furniture or historical descriptions.
Das antike Bureau aus dem 18. Jahrhundert wurde für einen hohen Preis versteigert.
The antique writing desk from the 18th century was auctioned for a high price.
office / bureau
'das Büro' and 'das Bureau' basically mean the same thing, but they do not belong to the same modern usage. 'Büro' is the normal modern spelling for an office or workplace. 'Bureau' is an outdated or elevated spelling and today appears mainly in the names of organizations or in historical texts. As a piece of furniture, too, 'Bureau' is old-fashioned. Learners may confuse the words because they sound almost the same and look very similar. In normal everyday usage, you almost always write 'Büro'.
Auf dem alten Schild steht noch „Bureau“ statt „Büro“.
The old sign still says 'Bureau' instead of 'Büro'.
Mein Büro ist heute wegen einer Besprechung den ganzen Vormittag besetzt.
My office is occupied all morning today because of a meeting.