der Kahn
punt
A small, flat boat without a keel, often moved by punting (pushing with a long pole).
EXAMPLE
Im Spreewald haben wir eine romantische Fahrt mit einem Kahn gemacht.
In the Spreewald, we took a romantic ride in a punt.
der Kahn
punt / old tub
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Meanings
der Kahn
old tub
Colloquial and often derogatory for an old, large, and sluggish ship, or also an old, rickety car.
EXAMPLE
Dieser rostige Kahn von einem Auto wird den nächsten Winter kaum überstehen.
This rusty old tub of a car will hardly make it through next winter.
Usage tips
Register and style
In the meaning of an old vehicle, 'Kahn' (old tub) is colloquial and slightly derogatory. It describes a vehicle that someone considers old, slow, or unreliable.
EXAMPLE
Mit diesem alten Kahn von Auto will ich nicht in den Urlaub fahren.
I don't want to go on vacation in this old tub of a car.
Context clue
The meaning is easy to recognize from context. If people are talking about water, rivers, or a boat trip, it means the boat. In connection with negative adjectives like 'alt' (old) or 'rostig' (rusty) for a vehicle, the colloquial meaning is meant.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Fluss trieb ein kleiner Kahn.
A small punt was drifting on the river.
Typical collocations
Common activities are 'eine Kahnfahrt machen' (to take a punt ride) or 'mit dem Kahn fahren' (to travel/go by punt). A very typical verb is 'staken' (to punt), which means to push the punt forward with a long pole.
EXAMPLE
Im Spreewald kann man sich in einem Kahn durch die Kanäle staken lassen.
In the Spreewald, you can have someone punt you through the canals in a punt.
Compare with
Kahn vs Schiff
ship
Schiff is the neutral term for a large watercraft. Kahn can colloquially refer to the same vessel when it looks old, sluggish, or poorly maintained; the word often sounds derogatory. Schiff is therefore more suitable for a factual statement.
Kahn
Dieser alte Kahn fährt tatsächlich noch jeden Morgen zur Insel.
This old tub actually still sails to the island every morning.
Schiff
Das alte Schiff fährt noch jeden Morgen zur Insel.
The old ship still sails to the island every morning.
In real life
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