avalanche
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avalanche
A large mass of snow, ice, and rock that rushes down a mountain at high speed.
Wegen der hohen Lawinengefahr wurden mehrere Bergstraßen gesperrt.
Because of the high avalanche risk, several mountain roads were closed.
Certain verbs are often used in connection with avalanches. An avalanche 'geht ab' (comes down) or 'löst sich' (breaks loose). People can be 'von einer Lawine verschüttet' (buried by an avalanche).
Gestern ist in den Alpen eine große Lawine abgegangen.
A large avalanche came down in the Alps yesterday.
'Lawine' (avalanche) is often the first part of compound nouns that have to do with danger in the mountains. Important examples are 'die Lawinengefahr' (avalanche risk), 'die Lawinenwarnung' (avalanche warning), and 'der Lawinenabgang' (avalanche release/avalanche event).
Bitte beachten Sie die aktuelle Lawinenwarnung für diese Region.
Please note the current avalanche warning for this region.
In the figurative meaning, the verb 'auslösen' (to trigger) is often used. An event 'löst eine Lawine von etwas aus' (triggers an avalanche of something), for example an avalanche of criticism or of willingness to help.
Sein Kommentar in den sozialen Medien löste eine Lawine der Empörung aus.
His comment on social media triggered an avalanche of outrage.
You can recognize the figurative meaning by the fact that 'Lawine' (avalanche) is combined with abstract nouns, such as 'eine Lawine von Anfragen' (an avalanche of inquiries), 'eine Lawine von Protesten' (an avalanche of protests), or 'eine Klagelawine' (a flood of lawsuits).
Nach der Ankündigung erhielt das Unternehmen eine Lawine von Bewerbungen.
After the announcement, the company received an avalanche of applications.
wave
'die Welle' and 'die Lawine' can both describe something large that comes suddenly and spreads quickly. In nature, however, they are different: a wave consists of water, while an avalanche consists of snow, ice, or rocks on a mountain. In a figurative sense, people say, for example, 'eine Welle von Kritik' (a wave of criticism) or 'eine Lawine von Anfragen' (an avalanche of inquiries). 'Welle' is more fitting when something spreads or comes one after another. 'Lawine' emphasizes more strongly that a large amount comes all at once and is almost impossible to stop.
Nach dem Gewinnspiel bekam die Firma eine Lawine von E-Mails.
After the prize draw, the company received an avalanche of emails.
Nach der Nachricht gab es eine Welle der Hilfsbereitschaft.
After the news, there was a wave of willingness to help.