getrennt
separate
Not together in terms of space; separated from one another.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden schlafen in getrennten Zimmern.
The two sleep in separate rooms.
getrennt
separate / separated
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Meanings
getrennt
separated
Refers to a couple that has ended their partnership or shared life together but is not yet legally divorced.
EXAMPLE
Meine Tante und mein Onkel leben seit einem Jahr getrennt.
My aunt and uncle have been living separately for a year.
getrennt
separate
Individually or separately, not together. Often used in the context of payments.
EXAMPLE
Wir möchten bitte getrennte Rechnungen.
We would like separate bills, please.
Usage tips
Word structure
'Getrennt' (separate/separated) is the past participle of the verb 'trennen' (to separate). It is very often used as an adjective to describe a state of separation.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Gruppen wurden getrennt voneinander untergebracht.
The two groups were accommodated separately from one another.
Sentence structure with 'von'
If you want to express what something or someone is separated from, you use the preposition 'von' with the dative.
EXAMPLE
Seit dem Umzug lebt er getrennt von seiner Familie.
Since the move, he has been living separately from his family.
Fixed expression
In a restaurant, the question 'Zusammen oder getrennt?' (Together or separately?) is very typical. If you do not want to pay together, you answer 'Getrennt, bitte!' (Separately, please!) or say 'Wir möchten getrennt zahlen.' (We would like to pay separately.)
EXAMPLE
Kellner: „Zahlen Sie zusammen oder getrennt?“ - Gast: „Getrennt, bitte.“
Waiter: 'Are you paying together or separately?' - Guest: 'Separately, please.'
Context: relationships
In the context of couples and relationships, 'getrennt leben' (to live separately) or 'getrennt sein' (to be separated) means that the relationship has ended, but the people are not yet divorced.
EXAMPLE
Sie sind seit letztem Herbst getrennt und werden sich bald scheiden lassen.
They have been separated since last fall and will soon get divorced.
Compare with
getrennt vs einzeln
individual / separate
Einzeln and getrennt can both express, when paying, that something is not done together. Einzeln focuses more on each person or bill being handled separately and often one after another, whereas getrennt emphasizes dividing the payment into separate bills. In a restaurant, getrennt is especially appropriate when each person is supposed to pay for themselves.
getrennt
Wir baten den Kellner, die Rechnungen getrennt auszustellen, damit jeder selbst bezahlen konnte.
We asked the waiter to issue separate bills so that everyone could pay for themselves.
einzeln
Der Kellner nahm die Rechnungen einzeln entgegen und kassierte sie nacheinander.
The waiter took the bills one at a time and collected the payments one after another.
In real life
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