01
das Intervall
interval
A time gap between two events or points in time; a period of time.
example
Die Züge fahren in einem Intervall von zehn Minuten.
The trains run at intervals of ten minutes.
das Intervall
interval
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word origin
The word 'Intervall' (interval) comes from the Latin 'intervallum', meaning 'space between two palisade stakes'. The basic idea of a 'space in between' helps you understand all meanings of the word, whether it is about time, space, music, or mathematics.
EXAMPLE
Zwischen den beiden Terminen liegt ein Intervall von drei Wochen.
There is an interval of three weeks between the two appointments.
Sentence structure with 'in'
'Intervall' (interval) is very often used with the preposition 'in' to describe a regular gap. The typical structure is 'in einem Intervall von [number + unit]' (at an interval of [number + unit]) or 'in regelmäßigen Intervallen' (at regular intervals).
EXAMPLE
Die Medikamente müssen in Intervallen von sechs Stunden eingenommen werden.
The medication must be taken at intervals of six hours.
Register and style
'Intervall' (interval) is a rather formal and educated-sounding word. It is often used in technical, scientific, or organized contexts.
EXAMPLE
Bitte halten Sie beim Parken ein Intervall von einem Meter zum nächsten Fahrzeug ein.
Please maintain an interval of one meter from the next vehicle when parking.
Context clue: time
When it is about time, you can recognize the meaning from words like 'Minuten' (minutes), 'Stunden' (hours), 'Tage' (days), 'regelmäßig' (regularly), or from verbs that describe a process, such as 'fahren' (to run/travel), 'stattfinden' (to take place), or 'wiederholen' (to repeat).
EXAMPLE
Die Sitzungen finden in wöchentlichen Intervallen statt.
The meetings take place at weekly intervals.
Context clue: music
In a musical context, you can recognize the meaning from words like 'Ton' (tone/note), 'Note' (note), 'Harmonie' (harmony), or from specific interval names like 'Terz' (third), 'Quinte' (fifth), or 'Oktave' (octave).
EXAMPLE
Der Sänger hatte Schwierigkeiten, das hohe Intervall sauber zu treffen.
The singer had difficulty hitting the high interval cleanly.
Compare with
Intervall vs Bereich
area / field
'der Bereich' and 'das Intervall' can both have to do with limits, especially with numbers. 'Bereich' is broader and means the whole set of possible values. 'Intervall' is more precise: it describes the distance or the set between two specific limits, for example from 10 to 20. In addition, 'Intervall' can also mean a time interval or a spatial distance. The words can be confusing because in mathematics both are sometimes used with values. 'Bereich' sounds more general; 'Intervall' sounds more precise and technical.
Intervall
Im Intervall von 10 bis 20 liegen nur diese Zahlen auf der Liste.
Only these numbers on the list fall within the interval from 10 to 20.
Bereich
Für diese Aufgabe liegt der erlaubte Bereich der Werte zwischen 0 und 100.
For this exercise, the permitted range of values is between 0 and 100.
In real life
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