bones / remains
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bones / remains
Elevated or literary term for the bones of a deceased person; the skeleton. The word is used almost exclusively in the plural ('die Gebeine' — the bones/remains).
Bei den Ausgrabungen wurden die Gebeine eines römischen Soldaten gefunden.
During the excavations, the remains of a Roman soldier were found.
bone
An outdated or technical term for a single bone, especially a leg bone. This use in the singular is very rare today.
Der alte Mann stützte sein müdes Gebein auf einen Stock.
The old man supported his tired bones with a cane.
The word is made up of the collective syllable 'Ge-' and the noun 'Bein' (leg/bone). Similar to 'Gebirge' (mountain range, many mountains), 'Gebein' refers to the totality of the bones, that is, the skeleton.
Die Archäologen legten vorsichtig das Gebein eines Mammuts frei.
The archaeologists carefully uncovered the skeleton of a mammoth.
Although the word has a singular form ('das Gebein'), it is used almost exclusively in the plural 'die Gebeine' when talking about the bones of a deceased person.
Die Gebeine des Heiligen werden in einem Schrein aufbewahrt.
The saint's remains are kept in a shrine.
'Gebeine' is an elevated and rather literary word. It is often found in historical, archaeological, or ceremonial contexts, but rarely in everyday colloquial speech.
Der Dichter beschrieb in seinem Gedicht die verstreuten Gebeine auf dem Schlachtfeld.
In his poem, the poet described the scattered bones on the battlefield.
Common verbs used with 'Gebeine' describe finding or burying. Typical phrases are 'Gebeine finden' (to find remains), 'Gebeine bergen' (to recover remains), or 'Gebeine beisetzen' (to bury remains).
Die sterblichen Überreste wurden geborgen und die Gebeine feierlich beigesetzt.
The mortal remains were recovered and the bones were ceremonially buried.
bone
Knochen refers neutrally to one or more individual parts of a skeleton. Gebein is used almost exclusively as Gebeine and, in elevated or solemn language, refers to the bones of a deceased person as a whole. Knochen is therefore appropriate in a factual description, while Gebeine is more suitable for a solemn burial.
Bei der feierlichen Umbettung wurden die Gebeine des Verstorbenen beigesetzt.
The deceased’s remains were buried during the solemn reinterment ceremony.
Im alten Grab fanden die Forschenden mehrere Knochen des Verstorbenen.
The researchers found several bones of the deceased in the old grave.
