der Kreuzer
cruiser
A large, fast, and heavily armed warship used for various military tasks at sea.
EXAMPLE
Die Flotte bestand aus einem Flugzeugträger und mehreren Kreuzern.
The fleet consisted of an aircraft carrier and several cruisers.
der Kreuzer
cruiser
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Meanings
der Kreuzer
cruiser
A sailing or motor yacht designed for longer trips and for living on board.
EXAMPLE
Im Sommer segeln sie mit ihrem Kreuzer entlang der kroatischen Küste.
In summer, they sail along the Croatian coast in their cruiser.
der Kreuzer
kreuzer
An old German or Austrian coin of low value that was used until the 19th century.
EXAMPLE
Für ein paar Kreuzer konnte man damals auf dem Markt ein ganzes Brot kaufen.
Back then, you could buy a whole loaf of bread at the market for a few kreuzers.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Kreuzer' (cruiser) is derived from the verb 'kreuzen' (to cross). This connects the meanings: a ship that cruises the seas, and a yacht with which you cruise on the water.
EXAMPLE
Das Schiff kreuzt seit Wochen im Mittelmeer.
The ship has been cruising in the Mediterranean for weeks.
Context clue
To distinguish between the warship and the yacht, pay attention to the context: military terms such as 'Flotte' (fleet) or 'Marine' (navy) point to the warship, while words such as 'segeln' (to sail) or 'Hafen' (harbor) refer to the yacht.
EXAMPLE
Der alte Kapitän verkaufte seinen Kreuzer und verbrachte den Ruhestand an Land.
The old captain sold his cruiser and spent his retirement on land.
Historical context
The meaning 'Münze' (coin) is purely historical. You can recognize it from the fact that the sentence is set in the past and often contains time expressions such as 'damals' (back then) or 'im 19. Jahrhundert' (in the 19th century).
EXAMPLE
Damals kostete ein Laib Brot nur wenige Kreuzer.
Back then, a loaf of bread cost only a few kreuzers.
Compare with
Kreuzer vs Yacht
yacht
Both words can refer to a large sailing or motor boat for private trips and living on board. A Kreuzer is particularly designed for longer journeys, while Yacht is the more general term for this type of recreational boat. Use Kreuzer when referring to the specialized design; otherwise, Yacht is usually the better choice.
Kreuzer
Unser Kreuzer ist für lange Fahrten ausgelegt und hat zwei Schlafkabinen.
Our cruiser is designed for long trips and has two sleeping cabins.
Yacht
Die Yacht liegt im Hafen und wird am Wochenende für private Fahrten genutzt.
The yacht is in the harbor and is used for private trips on weekends.
In real life
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