lamp
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lamp
A device that produces artificial light, consisting of a socket and a light source such as an incandescent bulb or LED.
Mach bitte die Lampe im Wohnzimmer an, es wird dunkel.
Please turn on the lamp in the living room; it's getting dark.
bulb / lamp
Colloquial for the light source itself, that is, the light bulb, LED bulb, or fluorescent tube that is screwed into a socket.
Ich muss eine neue Lampe kaufen, die alte ist durchgebrannt.
I need to buy a new bulb; the old one has burned out.
Whether the whole device or only the light bulb is meant can often be recognized from the verb. Verbs like 'anmachen' (to turn on), 'ausschalten' (to switch off), or 'aufhängen' (to hang up) refer to the whole device. Verbs like 'wechseln' (to change), 'einschrauben' (to screw in), or the condition 'ist durchgebrannt' (has burned out) refer to the light source.
Kannst du die Lampe über dem Tisch aufhängen?
Can you hang up the lamp above the table?
When the whole device is meant, people often refer to specific types such as 'Stehlampe' (floor lamp), 'Tischlampe' (table lamp), or 'Deckenlampe' (ceiling lamp). Typical actions are 'die Lampe anmachen' (to turn on the lamp) or 'ausschalten' (to switch it off).
Ich lese abends gerne mit meiner kleinen Tischlampe.
I like reading in the evening with my small table lamp.
In everyday language, 'Lampe' very often refers to the light source itself, that is, the light bulb or LED. This is especially common when talking about replacing it.
Wir müssen noch neue Lampen für die Küche kaufen.
We still need to buy new bulbs for the kitchen.
A very typical formulation is 'die Lampe ist durchgebrannt' (the bulb has burned out). Other common verbs in this context are 'eine Lampe wechseln' (to change a bulb), 'eindrehen' (to screw in), or 'rausdrehen' (to unscrew).
Warte, ich helfe dir, die neue Lampe einzudrehen.
Wait, I'll help you screw in the new bulb.
light
Licht can generally refer to a light source or its function, especially when switching it on and off. Lampe specifically refers to the actual device. That is why people usually switch on das Licht, but when something is damaged, they are more likely to inspect the Lampe.
Die Lampe über dem Esstisch hat einen Riss im Gehäuse.
The lamp above the dining table has a crack in its housing.
Mach bitte das Licht über dem Esstisch an.
Please turn on the light above the dining table.
