der Kreis
circle
A round, closed line in which all points are the same distance from the center; a circular area or arrangement.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder malten bunte Kreise auf das Papier.
The children drew colorful circles on the paper.
der Kreis
circle / district
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Meanings
der Kreis
circle
A group of people connected by shared interests, relationships, or activities.
EXAMPLE
Er feierte seinen Geburtstag nur im engsten Familienkreis.
He celebrated his birthday only in his closest family circle.
der Kreis
district
An administrative and territorial unit in Germany that stands between the municipality and the federal state; a rural district.
EXAMPLE
Das zuständige Amt befindet sich in der Hauptstadt des Kreises.
The responsible office is located in the capital of the district.
sich im Kreis drehen
to go in circles
To make no progress in a discussion or problem and keep returning to the same point.
EXAMPLE
Die Debatte dreht sich seit einer Stunde im Kreis, ohne dass eine Entscheidung fällt.
The debate has been going in circles for an hour without a decision being made.
den Kreis schließen
to close the circle
To logically conclude an action, thought, or narrative by returning to the starting point.
EXAMPLE
Um den Kreis zu schließen, möchte ich auf meine einleitende Frage zurückkommen.
To close the circle, I would like to return to my opening question.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning of 'Kreis' (circle/district) from context. Is it about geometry or a round shape? Is it about a social group? Or is it about an administrative region in Germany?
EXAMPLE
Wir saßen im Kreis und sangen Lieder.
We sat in a circle and sang songs.
Compound word formation
To describe a social group, 'Kreis' (circle) is often used as the second part of a compound noun. Examples are 'Freundeskreis' (circle of friends), 'Familienkreis' (family circle), or 'Lesekreis' (reading group).
EXAMPLE
Mein Freundeskreis ist mir sehr wichtig.
My circle of friends is very important to me.
German context
The meaning 'Landkreis' (district/rural district) is specific to the German administrative system. Here, a 'Kreis' is an administrative unit between the municipalities and the federal state, comparable to a 'county' in other countries.
EXAMPLE
Für den neuen Pass müssen Sie zur Verwaltung des Kreises gehen.
For the new passport, you have to go to the district administration.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'sich im Kreis drehen' (to go in circles) means that you are not making progress on a topic or problem. You repeat arguments without finding a solution.
EXAMPLE
Die Diskussion über das Budget dreht sich seit Stunden im Kreis.
The discussion about the budget has been going in circles for hours.
Fixed expression
'Den Kreis schließen' (to close the circle) is an idiom and means to logically conclude a story or argument by returning to the starting point. It creates a connection between the beginning and the end.
EXAMPLE
Mit dieser letzten Bemerkung schließt sich der Kreis zu meiner anfänglichen Frage.
With this final remark, the circle closes back to my initial question.
Compare with
Kreis vs Gruppe
group
Gruppe and Kreis can both refer to several people connected by a shared activity or relationship. Kreis places more emphasis on lasting relationships, shared interests, or belonging, while Gruppe can also be formed just for a particular situation. Gruppe fits a temporary grouping; Kreis is more suitable for an established social connection.
Kreis
In unserem Freundeskreis treffen wir uns jeden Freitag zum Spielen.
We meet in our circle of friends every Friday to play games.
Gruppe
Für das Projekt bildeten wir eine Gruppe aus fünf Studierenden.
We formed a group of five students for the project.
In real life
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