01
die Dekade
decade
A period of ten years.
example
Die 1980er-Jahre waren eine musikalisch sehr prägende Dekade.
The 1980s were a very influential decade musically.
die Dekade
decade
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word meaning
The word 'Dekade' (decade) comes from the ancient Greek word 'déka', which means 'ten'. This origin helps you remember that it refers to a group or period of ten.
EXAMPLE
Ein Jahrhundert besteht aus zehn Dekaden.
A century consists of ten decades.
Register and style
'Dekade' (decade) is often used in written language, for example in journalistic or historical texts. It often sounds somewhat more formal or academic.
EXAMPLE
Die Studie analysiert die Geburtenraten der letzten drei Dekaden.
The study analyzes the birth rates of the last three decades.
Typical collocations
Common phrases are 'die letzte Dekade' (the last decade) or 'die kommende Dekade' (the coming decade). You can also use it for named decades, for example 'die Dekade der 90er-Jahre' (the decade of the 90s).
EXAMPLE
In der kommenden Dekade stehen große gesellschaftliche Veränderungen an.
Major social changes are coming in the next decade.
Context clue
The meaning 'Gruppe von zehn' (group of ten) is very rare. It occurs almost only in technical or historical texts. The context then makes it clear that it is not about years, but about countable units.
EXAMPLE
Der Rosenkranz ist in fünf Dekaden von je zehn Gebetsperlen unterteilt.
The rosary is divided into five decades of ten prayer beads each.
Compare with
Dekade vs Jahrhundert
century
'das Jahrhundert' and 'die Dekade' are both periods of time, but they are very different in length. A century lasts one hundred years; a decade lasts ten years. Learners may confuse the words because both are often used for historical or personal periods of time. When you talk about a whole century, you mean, for example, the years 1901 to 2000. When you talk about a decade, you more likely mean the 1990s or a period of ten years.
Dekade
In der letzten Dekade sind die Mieten in der Stadt stark gestiegen.
In the last decade, rents in the city have risen sharply.
Jahrhundert
Dieses Schloss wurde im 18. Jahrhundert gebaut.
This castle was built in the 18th century.
In real life
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