off-road vehicle
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off-road vehicle
A robust motor vehicle with four-wheel drive that is specially designed for driving on unpaved or difficult terrain such as forest paths, mud, or in the mountains.
Mit seinem Geländewagen konnte der Förster auch entlegene Gebiete im Wald erreichen.
With his off-road vehicle, the forester was able to reach even remote areas in the forest.
The word is a clear compound of 'Gelände' (rough, natural terrain) and 'Wagen' (car). So it is literally a 'car for the terrain'.
Ein normaler Pkw wäre auf diesem Weg stecken geblieben, aber der Geländewagen schaffte es.
A normal car would have gotten stuck on this path, but the off-road vehicle made it.
The name of the vehicle directly describes its main function: the ability to drive 'im Gelände' (off-road), that is, away from paved roads. This characteristic distinguishes it from normal cars.
Dieser Geländewagen wurde speziell für Expeditionen im Gelände entwickelt.
This off-road vehicle was developed especially for expeditions in rough terrain.
The word is often used in sentences that describe difficult terrain. Typical formulations are 'mit dem Geländewagen durch den Wald fahren' (to drive through the forest in an off-road vehicle), 'im Gebirge unterwegs sein' (to be traveling in the mountains), or 'durch Schlamm und Wasser fahren' (to drive through mud and water).
Nach dem starken Regen war der Waldweg nur noch mit einem Geländewagen befahrbar.
After the heavy rain, the forest path was only passable with an off-road vehicle.
jeep
In everyday language, both words can refer to a sturdy, off-road vehicle. “Jeep” is a colloquial, generalized term that may suggest a connection to the brand, while “Geländewagen” is the neutral term for this type of vehicle. “Jeep” is more common in casual conversation, while “Geländewagen” is more common in factual texts.
Für die Fahrt durch den Schlamm nahm die Familie einen Geländewagen.
The family took an off-road vehicle for the drive through the mud.
Im Alltag nennt Lisa den robusten Wagen einfach einen Jeep, obwohl er von einer anderen Marke ist.
In everyday conversation, Lisa simply calls the sturdy vehicle a Jeep, even though it is from another brand.
