chain
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chain
An Anglicism from business that refers to a chain of stores, hotels, or restaurants operated under the same brand and management. The German word 'Kette' (chain) is more common.
Die amerikanische Fast-Food-Chain plant, weitere Filialen in Europa zu eröffnen.
The American fast-food chain is planning to open more branches in Europe.
'Die Chain' (the chain) is a direct loanword from English. You mainly find it in specialist texts from business and marketing, often to create an international reference.
Die Marketingabteilung analysiert den Erfolg der neuen Fast-Food-Chain.
The marketing department is analyzing the success of the new fast-food chain.
Although the word comes from English, it has feminine gender in German: 'die Chain' (the chain). This is probably because the German equivalent 'die Kette' (the chain) is also feminine, which makes learning the article easier.
Diese Hotel-Chain ist weltweit für ihren Luxus bekannt.
This hotel chain is known worldwide for its luxury.
The word 'Chain' (chain) is often used as part of compound nouns, which usually also contain English terms. Examples are 'Hotel-Chain' (hotel chain), 'Fast-Food-Chain' (fast-food chain), or 'Retail-Chain' (retail chain).
Er arbeitet als Manager für eine große amerikanische Hotel-Chain.
He works as a manager for a large American hotel chain.
chain / necklace
'die Kette' and 'die Chain' can both mean a group of shops, hotels, or restaurants under the same brand. 'Kette' is the normal German word and works in almost all everyday situations. 'Chain' is an Anglicism and sounds more like business, marketing, or international business language. Learners may confuse the words because 'chain' in English also means 'Kette'. In German, however, 'die Chain' does not mean a necklace or a metal chain, but only this type of company. In normal conversation, 'Kette' is usually more natural.
Das Unternehmen prüft, ob die Chain auch in kleineren Städten Filialen eröffnen soll.
The company is checking whether the chain should also open branches in smaller towns.
In der Innenstadt hat eine neue Kette für günstige Hotels eröffnet.
A new budget hotel chain has opened downtown.