camping
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camping
A form of vacation or leisure activity in which you spend the night in a tent, caravan, or motorhome, usually in nature at a campsite.
Für uns ist Camping die schönste Art, den Sommer zu verbringen.
For us, camping is the nicest way to spend the summer.
'Camping' is a nominalized verb from English. Like many such words ending in '-ing', it is used as a noun in German and is neuter (das Camping).
Das Camping am Meer ist im Sommer sehr beliebt.
Camping by the sea is very popular in summer.
As an activity, 'Camping' is often combined with the verb 'machen' (to do). When referring to going there, you say 'zum Camping fahren' (to go camping by vehicle) or 'zum Camping gehen' (to go camping).
Wir wollen nächstes Wochenende am See Camping machen.
We want to go camping by the lake next weekend.
A common and important collocation is 'wildes Camping' (wild camping). This means spending the night in nature outside official campsites, which is usually prohibited in Germany.
Wildes Camping kann in Naturschutzgebieten teuer werden.
Wild camping can become expensive in nature reserves.
to camp
Zelten explicitly means spending the night in a tent. Camping is the broader term and also includes staying overnight in a caravan or motorhome. Both words are suitable when staying in a tent, but only Camping applies to other types of camping accommodation.
Im Sommer verbringen wir beim Camping eine Woche im Wohnmobil an einem See.
In the summer, we spend a week camping by a lake in a motorhome.
Im Sommer zelten wir eine Woche lang an einem See.
In the summer, we camp by a lake for a week.
