doppelgänger
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lookalike
A person who looks so much like another person that they could be mistaken for them, without being related to them.
Im Urlaub habe ich jemanden getroffen, der der Doppelgänger meines Bruders war.
On vacation, I met someone who was my brother's lookalike.
doppelgänger
In literature and mythology, a ghostly or supernatural double of a living person, whose appearance is often considered a bad omen.
In der Schauergeschichte wird der Protagonist von seinem unheimlichen Doppelgänger verfolgt.
In the horror story, the protagonist is pursued by his eerie doppelgänger.
The word is made up of 'doppel' (double) and 'Gänger' (from 'gehen' (to go)). So it literally describes a person who 'goes around' as a 'second version' of another person.
Manche berühmten Politiker haben Doppelgänger, die sie bei öffentlichen Auftritten aus Sicherheitsgründen vertreten.
Some famous politicians have lookalikes who stand in for them at public appearances for security reasons.
To say whose doppelgänger someone is, you usually use the genitive or a possessive pronoun. This clearly names the person who appears to have a double.
Ich habe gestern den Doppelgänger von Angela Merkel in der U-Bahn gesehen.
Yesterday I saw Angela Merkel's doppelgänger on the subway.
The supernatural meaning is clear from context. When ghosts, omens, eerie apparitions, or old legends are mentioned, it usually refers to the mythical being, not just a person who looks similar.
Der alten Sage nach bringt es Unglück, seinem eigenen Doppelgänger zu begegnen.
According to the old legend, it brings bad luck to meet your own doppelgänger.
The 'Doppelgänger' is an important motif in German literature, especially in Romanticism. It often symbolizes a dark, hidden side of the main character.
In vielen Schauerromanen des 19. Jahrhunderts spielt der unheimliche Doppelgänger eine zentrale Rolle.
In many 19th-century Gothic novels, the eerie doppelgänger plays a central role.
double
A Double and a Doppelgänger can both look very similar to another, usually famous, person. However, a Double is often deliberately used as a replacement or performer, whereas „Doppelgänger“ initially refers only to the striking similarity. Use „Double“ for a deliberate role and „Doppelgänger“ for a chance encounter.
Auf der Straße begegnete ich einem Doppelgänger des Schauspielers.
I ran into the actor’s doppelgänger on the street.
Für die gefährliche Szene wurde ein Double des Schauspielers engagiert.
A double for the actor was hired for the dangerous scene.
