die Domäne
domain / field
An area in which someone has special knowledge or special skills; a specialty or field of expertise.
EXAMPLE
Die Quantenphysik ist wirklich nicht meine Domäne.
Quantum physics is really not my domain.
die Domäne
domain
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
die Domäne
domain
In information technology, a uniquely named section of the internet that is under common administration, such as a website address.
EXAMPLE
Ich muss noch eine passende Domäne für meine neue Webseite registrieren.
I still need to register a suitable domain for my new website.
die Domäne
estate / domain
Historically, a large estate owned by the state or by a ruler.
EXAMPLE
Früher gehörte das ganze Land zur königlichen Domäne.
In the past, the whole land belonged to the royal domain.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Domäne' (domain) comes from the Latin 'dominus' (lord, master). This origin connects all meanings: the estate of a ruler, a field that one 'masters,' and an 'area' on the internet.
EXAMPLE
Die digitale Forensik ist seine absolute Domäne.
Digital forensics is absolutely his domain.
Context clues
The context makes clear which meaning is intended. Words like 'Website' (website) or 'registrieren' (to register) point to the IT meaning, fields like 'Physik' (physics) point to a specialty, and terms like 'königlich' (royal) or 'Landgut' (estate) point to the historical meaning.
EXAMPLE
Für unser Projekt müssen wir noch eine .de-Domäne kaufen.
For our project, we still need to buy a .de domain.
Typical usage
In the sense of 'Spezialgebiet' (specialty), 'Domäne' (domain) is very often used with a possessive pronoun. The negative formulation 'Das ist nicht meine/seine/ihre Domäne' (That is not my/his/her domain) is especially common.
EXAMPLE
Kochen ist nicht gerade meine Domäne, aber ich gebe mein Bestes.
Cooking is not exactly my domain, but I do my best.
Typical collocations
In an IT context, 'Domäne' (domain) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are: 'eine Domäne registrieren' (to register a domain), 'eine Domäne kaufen' (to buy a domain), 'eine Domäne verwalten' (to manage a domain), or 'eine Domäne einrichten' (to set up a domain).
EXAMPLE
Er hat vergessen, seine Domäne rechtzeitig zu verlängern.
He forgot to renew his domain on time.
Compare with
Domäne vs Gebiet
area / field
Gebiet and Domäne can both refer to a field of study or activity. Gebiet names the area neutrally. Domäne additionally suggests that someone has particular knowledge or skills in it, so it is especially suitable when talking about personal expertise or responsibility.
Domäne
Datenanalyse ist ihre Domäne, denn darin kennt sie sich besonders gut aus.
Data analysis is her area of expertise because she knows it particularly well.
Gebiet
Datenanalyse ist ein Gebiet, in dem sie seit zwei Jahren arbeitet.
Data analysis is a field she has been working in for two years.
In real life
Loading video examples...