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.
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
'das Licht' and 'die Lampe' are often used together in everyday life, but they do not mean the same thing. 'Licht' means the brightness, or sometimes colloquially a light source. 'Lampe' means the device that produces artificial light, or colloquially the bulb inside it. That is why it is easy to confuse the words, especially in sentences like 'Mach das Licht an' (turn on the light). There, you mean the brightness, not the device itself. If you are talking about the device, 'Lampe' is more precise; if you are talking about brightness, 'Licht' is correct.
Die Lampe neben dem Sofa ist kaputt und flackert ständig.
The lamp next to the sofa is broken and keeps flickering.
Vor dem Lesen macht Tom das Licht am Schreibtisch an.
Before reading, Tom turns on the light at the desk.