documentary / documentation
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documentary
A colloquial short form of 'die Dokumentation' (the documentary/documentation), usually meaning a film or TV program that presents real events or facts.
Gestern Abend lief eine spannende Doku über das Leben in der Tiefsee.
Yesterday evening there was an exciting documentary about life in the deep sea.
documentation
A colloquial short form of 'die Dokumentation' (the documentation) in the sense of written documents, instructions, or reports, often in a technical or professional context.
Hast du die Doku für die neue Software schon gelesen?
Have you already read the documentation for the new software?
'Doku' is a colloquial abbreviation of the word 'Dokumentation' (documentary/documentation). In formal or written contexts, you should use the full form.
Lass uns heute Abend eine Doku schauen.
Let's watch a documentary tonight.
Whether a film or a text is meant can be recognized from the verb and the topic. Verbs like 'sehen' (to see/watch) or 'schauen' (to watch) point to a film. Verbs like 'lesen' (to read) or 'schreiben' (to write) point to written documents.
Ich habe gestern eine interessante Doku über Ägypten gesehen.
I watched an interesting documentary about Egypt yesterday.
When a film is meant, 'Doku' is often used with verbs like 'sehen' (to see/watch), 'schauen' (to watch), 'laufen' (to be on TV), or 'drehen' (to shoot/produce).
Auf diesem Kanal laufen oft gute Dokus über die Natur.
Good documentaries about nature are often on this channel.
document
A Dokument is a single official or informative written item. Doku is the colloquial short form of Dokumentation and refers to a collection or systematic presentation of documents, instructions, or reports, especially in a professional context. Use Dokument for a single file or written item, and Doku for the documentation as a whole.
Bitte schick mir noch die technische Doku mit allen Anleitungen und Berichten.
Please send me the technical documentation with all the instructions and reports as well.
Bitte schick mir noch das einzelne Dokument mit den technischen Angaben.
Please send me the individual document containing the technical specifications as well.
