A small church building or a separate room in a larger church that is used for religious services or prayer.
example
Die Hochzeitszeremonie fand in einer kleinen Kapelle auf dem Land statt.
The wedding ceremony took place in a small chapel in the countryside.
Usage tips
Context clue
To distinguish the two meanings, pay attention to the context. Words like 'Kirche' (church), 'beten' (to pray), or 'heiraten' (to get married) point to the building. Words like 'Musik' (music), 'Instrumente' (instruments), or 'spielen' (to play) point to the musical group.
EXAMPLE
In der kleinen Kapelle am Berg findet jeden Sonntag ein Gottesdienst statt.
A religious service takes place every Sunday in the small chapel on the mountain.
Typical collocations
When referring to the building, 'Kapelle' (chapel) is often used with verbs like 'besichtigen' (to visit/tour), 'beten' (to pray), or 'heiraten' (to get married). Common prepositions are 'in der Kapelle' (in the chapel, location) or 'in die Kapelle' (into the chapel, direction).
EXAMPLE
Viele Touristen besichtigen die alte Kapelle des Schlosses.
Many tourists visit the old chapel of the castle.
Typical collocations
As a musical group, 'Kapelle' (band) is often used in compounds such as 'Blaskapelle' (brass band), 'Dorfkapelle' (village band), or 'Musikkapelle' (music band). Typical verbs are 'spielen' (to play) or 'auftreten' (to perform).
EXAMPLE
Eine Blaskapelle führte den Festumzug an.
A brass band led the festive parade.
Register and style
The term 'Kapelle' (band) for a musical group is mostly used for traditional formations such as brass, folk, or dance music groups. The word is unusual for a modern rock or pop band.
EXAMPLE
Zum Oktoberfest gehören traditionelle bayerische Kapellen.
Traditional Bavarian bands are part of Oktoberfest.
Compare with
near_synonym · confusable
Kapelle vs Kirche
church
'die Kirche' and 'die Kapelle' can both be places for prayer or worship. 'Kirche' usually means a separate, larger building for a Christian congregation. 'Kapelle' is smaller, or just a special room in a larger church, in a hospital, or in a cemetery. The words can be confused because both are religious places. The most important difference is size and function: a 'Kapelle' is usually smaller and more specific.
Kapelle
Nach der Wanderung zündete Lisa in der kleinen Kapelle eine Kerze an.
After the hike, Lisa lit a candle in the small chapel.
Kirche
Mehmet fotografierte die alte Kirche im Dorfzentrum.
Mehmet photographed the old church in the village center.