01
der Fond
rear seat
The rear seating area in a passenger car.
example
Die Kinder saßen bequem im Fond und schauten einen Film.
The children sat comfortably in the rear seat and watched a film.
der Fond
rear seat / stock / background
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Meanings
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Usage tips
French pronunciation
The word 'Fond' comes from French. Therefore, the final letter 'd' is not pronounced, and the vowel 'o' is pronounced nasally.
EXAMPLE
Bitte nehmen Sie im Fond Platz.
Please take a seat in the rear.
Meaning in context
The three meanings are clearly separated by context. In connection with cars, it refers to the seating area; in cooking, to the broth; and in art, to the background.
EXAMPLE
Die Papiere liegen hinten im Fond des Wagens.
The papers are in the back, in the rear seat area of the car.
In the car: location and direction
When referring to the seating area in a car, you use 'im Fond' (dative) for location and 'in den Fond' (accusative) for movement toward it.
EXAMPLE
Die Jacke liegt noch im Fond.
The jacket is still in the rear seat area.
Typical collocations (cooking)
In cooking, 'Fond' is often used in compounds such as 'Gemüsefond' (vegetable stock), 'Fischfond' (fish stock), or 'Kalbsfond' (veal stock). Typical verbs are 'einen Fond ansetzen' (to start/make a stock) or 'mit Fond ablöschen' (to deglaze with stock).
EXAMPLE
Der Braten wurde mit einem kräftigen Rinderfond abgelöscht.
The roast was deglazed with a rich beef stock.
Rare meaning
The meaning 'Hintergrund' (background) is rare today. You find it almost only in art history or in descriptions of paintings and stage designs.
EXAMPLE
Das Porträt zeigt eine helle Figur vor einem dunklen Fond.
The portrait shows a bright figure against a dark background.
Compare with
Fond vs Hintergrund
background
'der Hintergrund' and 'der Fond' can refer to the same area in images, on stages, or in scenes: the part that is farther back. 'Hintergrund' is the normal and very common word for this today. 'Fond' in this meaning sounds more technical, artistic, or old-fashioned, and is used much less often. The words can be confusing because 'Fond' really can mean 'background' in art. In everyday language, however, 'Hintergrund' is almost always more natural; otherwise, 'Fond' is more often heard for the rear area of a car or for a stock in cooking.
Fond
Der Maler setzte helle Farben in den Fond des Bildes.
The painter used light colors in the background of the picture.
Hintergrund
Auf dem Foto sieht man im Hintergrund die Berge.
In the photo, you can see the mountains in the background.
In real life
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