horn
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horn
A device on a vehicle that produces a loud acoustic signal at the push of a button in order to warn other road users.
Als der Radfahrer plötzlich auf die Straße fuhr, betätigte der LKW-Fahrer sofort die Hupe.
When the cyclist suddenly rode onto the road, the truck driver immediately sounded the horn.
The corresponding verb for 'die Hupe' (the horn) is 'hupen' (to honk). It describes the action of producing the horn signal.
In dieser Straße darf man nachts nicht hupen.
You are not allowed to honk in this street at night.
Instead of the verb 'hupen' (to honk), you can also use the paraphrases 'die Hupe betätigen' (to sound/operate the horn) or 'auf die Hupe drücken' (to press the horn). These are somewhat more formal or descriptive.
Der Fahrer drückte wütend auf die Hupe.
The driver angrily pressed the horn.
The horn is used to warn others. A typical sentence construction is: 'hupen, um zu ...' (to honk in order to ...).
Er hupte, um den Fußgänger zu warnen.
He honked to warn the pedestrian.
horn
Hupe is the usual neutral term for a vehicle’s acoustic warning device. Horn can refer to the same device, but in this sense it is colloquial. Hupe is therefore more suitable in a factual description, while Horn is also possible in casual everyday speech.
In der Werkstatt prüft die Mechanikerin die Hupe des Autos.
At the garage, the mechanic checks the car’s horn.
Der Fahrer rief seinem Beifahrer zu: „Drück doch aufs Horn!“
The driver called out to his passenger, “Go on, press the horn!”
