intermezzo
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intermezzo
A short interlude, episode, or interruption that differs from what happens before and after it.
Nach einem kurzen, aber heftigen Streit gab es ein frostiges Intermezzo des Schweigens beim Abendessen.
After a short but heated argument, there was a frosty intermezzo of silence at dinner.
'Intermezzo' comes from Italian. It is made up of 'inter' (between) and 'mezzo' (middle). So it literally means 'something in the middle' or 'interlude'.
Das sonnige Intermezzo dauerte nur wenige Stunden, dann regnete es wieder.
The sunny intermezzo lasted only a few hours, then it rained again.
The word 'Intermezzo' (intermezzo) belongs more to elevated or educated language. It sounds somewhat more elegant and specific than 'Unterbrechung' (interruption) or 'Zwischenspiel' (interlude).
Nach seiner politischen Karriere gönnte er sich ein kurzes Intermezzo als Schriftsteller.
After his political career, he allowed himself a short intermezzo as a writer.
In its general meaning, 'Intermezzo' (intermezzo) is often combined with adjectives that describe its type or duration, for example 'ein kurzes Intermezzo' (a short intermezzo), 'ein romantisches Intermezzo' (a romantic intermezzo), or 'ein unerwartetes Intermezzo' (an unexpected intermezzo).
Ihr gemeinsamer Urlaub war nur ein kurzes romantisches Intermezzo.
Their vacation together was only a short romantic intermezzo.
You can clearly recognize the musical meaning from the context. If opera, theater, concert, or composition is being discussed, it refers to the musical interlude.
Zwischen den beiden Akten der Tragödie wurde ein heiteres Intermezzo aufgeführt.
Between the two acts of the tragedy, a cheerful intermezzo was performed.
break / pause
'die Pause' and 'das Intermezzo' can both occur between two parts of an action or performance. The difference is important: a 'Pause' is an interruption during which you wait, rest, or do something else. An 'Intermezzo' is more like a short interlude or a special episode, meaning something that happens during this in-between time. In theater or music, an 'Intermezzo' can be its own short piece between larger parts. The words are confused because both describe something in between. If nothing important happens and there is simply an interruption, you say 'Pause'; if a separate short event happens, 'Intermezzo' fits.
Ein kurzes musikalisches Intermezzo lockerte den langen Abend im Theater auf.
A short musical intermezzo lightened up the long evening at the theater.
Vor dem nächsten Termin hat die Ärztin eine kurze Pause gemacht.
Before the next appointment, the doctor took a short break.