DJ
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DJ
A person who selects and plays recorded music for an audience, for example at a party, in a club, or on the radio. The abbreviation stands for disc jockey.
Der Dj hat die ganze Nacht für gute Stimmung auf der Tanzfläche gesorgt.
The DJ kept the dance floor in a good mood all night.
'DJ' is the abbreviation for the English word 'disc jockey'. In German, the abbreviation is usually used and often pronounced in English.
Ein guter DJ kann die Stimmung eines ganzen Abends bestimmen.
A good DJ can set the mood for an entire evening.
Although different spellings exist, the form 'DJ' with two capital letters is by far the most common in German.
Für unsere Hochzeit haben wir einen professionellen DJ engagiert.
We hired a professional DJ for our wedding.
The typical verb that describes the activity of a DJ is 'auflegen'. It means to select and play music for an audience.
Welcher DJ legt heute Abend im Club auf?
Which DJ is playing at the club tonight?
musician
'der Musiker' and 'der DJ' both have to do with music, but they do not mean exactly the same thing. A musician makes music themselves, for example with an instrument, with their voice, or by composing. A DJ selects recorded music and plays it for others, for example at a party or in a club. Learners may confuse the words because DJs often stand on stages and work with music. If you are speaking generally about someone who makes music, 'Musiker' fits. If it is about playing and mixing finished music, 'DJ' is more precise.
Auf der Hochzeit legt der DJ bis spät in die Nacht Musik auf.
At the wedding, the DJ plays music late into the night.
Der Musiker spielt heute Abend Geige im Theater.
The musician is playing violin at the theater this evening.