to decipher
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to decipher
To successfully read and understand something that is difficult to read, such as bad handwriting, an old inscription, or a code.
Es dauerte Stunden, die geheime Botschaft des Spions zu entziffern.
It took hours to decipher the spy's secret message.
to decipher
In a figurative sense: to understand something complex, puzzling, or difficult to grasp through thought and analysis.
Die Forscher versuchen, das komplexe Verhalten der Vögel zu entziffern.
The researchers are trying to decipher the complex behavior of the birds.
The verb is derived from the noun 'die Ziffer' (the digit). The prefix 'ent-' here means something like 'to extract something from something.' So you extract the meaning from the signs or digits.
Der Archäologe konnte die alten Hieroglyphen entziffern.
The archaeologist was able to decipher the ancient hieroglyphs.
'Entziffern' (to decipher) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ent-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Sie hat seine unleserliche Nachricht sofort entziffert.
She deciphered his illegible message immediately.
In its literal meaning, 'entziffern' (to decipher) is often combined with things that are hard to read. Typical objects are: handwriting, an inscription, a code, or a secret script.
Ich konnte die Handschrift auf der alten Postkarte kaum entziffern.
I could barely decipher the handwriting on the old postcard.
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the object. If it is something abstract like 'ein Rätsel' (a riddle), 'ein Muster' (a pattern), or 'ein Verhalten' (a behavior), the figurative meaning of understanding is meant.
Der Detektiv versuchte, das seltsame Muster in den Verbrechen zu entziffern.
The detective tried to decipher the strange pattern in the crimes.
to decrypt / decipher
Entschlüsseln is used when a message has been deliberately encrypted or encoded and is made readable again using a method. Entziffern, by contrast, means successfully reading hard-to-recognize letters, symbols, or even a code. Encryption is not necessarily involved.
Mit einer Lupe konnte sie die verblasste Nachricht entziffern.
With a magnifying glass, she was able to decipher the faded message.
Mit dem passenden Schlüssel konnte sie die codierte Nachricht entschlüsseln.
With the right key, she was able to decrypt the coded message.
