checkpoint
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checkpoint
A control point, especially at a border, in a military area, or in a conflict zone, where people and vehicles are checked.
Am Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin wurden früher die Sektorengrenzen kontrolliert.
At Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin, the sector borders used to be controlled.
'Checkpoint' is a word from English that was adopted directly into German. It is made up of 'check' (Kontrolle) and 'point' (Punkt).
Alle Fahrzeuge mussten am Checkpoint anhalten.
All vehicles had to stop at the checkpoint.
To describe a location, you use 'an' with the dative: 'am Checkpoint warten' (to wait at the checkpoint). To express movement toward it, you use 'an' with the accusative or 'zu': 'an den Checkpoint fahren' or 'zum Checkpoint fahren' (to drive to the checkpoint).
Die Soldaten stehen am Checkpoint und kontrollieren die Papiere.
The soldiers are standing at the checkpoint and checking the papers.
Many Germans immediately associate this word with 'Checkpoint Charlie', the most famous border crossing between East and West Berlin during the Cold War. It is an important historical symbol.
Touristen aus aller Welt besuchen heute den ehemaligen Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin.
Tourists from all over the world visit the former Checkpoint Charlie in Berlin today.
Common verbs in connection with 'Checkpoint' are 'einen Checkpoint passieren' (to pass a checkpoint), 'an einem Checkpoint kontrolliert werden' (to be checked at a checkpoint), or 'einen Checkpoint errichten' (to set up a checkpoint).
Das Militär hat entlang der Grenze mehrere neue Checkpoints errichtet.
The military set up several new checkpoints along the border.
control / check
'die Kontrolle' and 'der Checkpoint' can both mean a place where people or vehicles are checked. In German, 'Kontrolle' is more general: it can mean the check itself or also the control point, for example at an airport or at a border. 'Checkpoint' almost always means a specific checkpoint, often at a border, in a military area, or in a conflict zone. The words can be confused because a 'Kontrolle' takes place at a 'Checkpoint'. For ordinary checks, 'Kontrolle' is usually more natural; for a fixed checkpoint in these kinds of special situations, 'Checkpoint' is more precise.
Wegen der Unruhen wurde der Checkpoint am Morgen geschlossen.
Because of the unrest, the checkpoint was closed in the morning.
An der Grenze mussten wir bei der Kontrolle unsere Ausweise zeigen.
At the border, we had to show our IDs during the check.