der Kegel
pin
One of the nine wooden or plastic figures that have to be knocked over with a ball in nine-pin bowling.
EXAMPLE
Mit einem Wurf hat er alle neun Kegel abgeräumt.
With one throw, he knocked down all nine pins.
der Kegel
pin / cone
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Meanings
der Kegel
cone
A geometric solid with a circular base whose lateral surface ends in a point. Also known as a 'Konus' (cone).
EXAMPLE
Im Mathematikunterricht berechneten wir das Volumen eines Kegels.
In math class, we calculated the volume of a cone.
der Kegel
traffic cone
A usually red-and-white striped, cone-shaped plastic object used to direct traffic or block off an area. Often also called a 'Verkehrskegel' (traffic cone) or 'Pylone' (pylon/cone).
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei stellte Kegel auf, um die Unfallstelle abzusichern.
The police set up traffic cones to secure the accident site.
Usage tips
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning of 'Kegel' from the context. Words like 'umwerfen' (to knock over) or 'Bahn' (lane/alley) point to the sport, 'berechnen' (to calculate) or 'Volumen' (volume) to geometry, and 'Straße' (street/road) or 'absperren' (to block off) to traffic.
EXAMPLE
Er warf den Kegel mit voller Wucht um.
He knocked over the pin with full force.
Compound nouns
'Kegel' is the basis for many compound words that make the meaning more precise. Examples are 'Verkehrskegel' (traffic cone), 'Lichtkegel' (beam/cone of light), or 'Kegelbahn' (bowling alley).
EXAMPLE
Der Scheinwerfer warf einen hellen Lichtkegel an die Wand.
The spotlight cast a bright cone of light on the wall.
Typical expression
In nine-pin bowling, there is the fixed expression 'alle Neune treffen' or 'alle Neune abräumen' (to hit/clear all nine). It means that you have knocked over all nine pins with one throw.
EXAMPLE
Wow, du hast mit einem Wurf alle Neune getroffen!
Wow, you hit all nine with one throw!
Typical collocations
In a traffic context, cones are typically 'aufgestellt' (set up) in order to 'absperren' (block off) an area or 'umzuleiten' (reroute) traffic.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Unfalls musste die Polizei die Fahrspur mit Kegeln absperren.
Because of the accident, the police had to block off the lane with traffic cones.
Compare with
Kegel vs Pin
PIN / pin
Der Pin and der Kegel can both refer to a figure in a ball game, but the words belong to different games. In bowling, people say “Pin”; in nine-pin bowling, they say “Kegel.” The type of game therefore determines which term is appropriate.
Kegel
Beim Kegeln fielen nach dem Wurf acht Kegel um.
In nine-pin bowling, eight pins fell after the throw.
Pin
Beim Bowling traf die Kugel alle zehn Pins.
The ball knocked down all ten pins in bowling.
In real life
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