01
die Lebenszeit
lifetime
The entire span of time that a person lives from the moment of birth until death.
example
Er hat einen großen Teil seiner Lebenszeit der Musik gewidmet.
He devoted a large part of his lifetime to music.
die Lebenszeit
lifetime
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
'Lebenszeit' (lifetime) is a compound noun made from 'das Leben' (life) and 'die Zeit' (time). The 's' in between is a linking s that connects the two words.
EXAMPLE
Die Lebenszeit ist zu kurz für schlechte Laune.
Life is too short for bad moods.
Context clue
Whether the lifespan of a person or the functional lifespan of a device is meant becomes clear from context. If the word refers to people, it is about the person. If it refers to technology or products, it is about their durability.
EXAMPLE
Goethe hat während seiner Lebenszeit viele Werke geschrieben.
Goethe wrote many works during his lifetime.
Typical collocations
When referring to a person's lifespan, the word is often combined with a possessive pronoun (meine, seine, ihre) and verbs such as 'widmen' (to devote), 'verbringen' (to spend), or 'genießen' (to enjoy).
EXAMPLE
Sie hat ihre gesamte Lebenszeit der Forschung gewidmet.
She devoted her entire lifetime to research.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'auf Lebenszeit' (for life) is a fixed expression. It is often used in legal or political contexts for offices or judgments that apply until a person's death.
EXAMPLE
Der Diktator ernannte sich selbst zum Präsidenten auf Lebenszeit.
The dictator appointed himself president for life.
Compare with
Lebenszeit vs Laufzeit
runtime / term
'die Laufzeit' and 'die Lebenszeit' both describe a duration, but they fit different questions. 'Laufzeit' means a fixed period during which something runs or is valid, for example a contract, a loan, or a program. 'Lebenszeit' means a person's lifetime. For products, it means the total time until something is no longer usable. The words can be confused when talking about devices. 'Laufzeit' is more about asking: How long does it run right now, or per use? 'Lebenszeit' asks: How long does it last overall?
Lebenszeit
Die Lebenszeit dieser Batterie ist länger, wenn man sie nicht zu heiß lagert.
The service life of this battery is longer if you do not store it somewhere too hot.
Laufzeit
Die Laufzeit des Handyvertrags endet im nächsten Monat.
The term of the mobile phone contract ends next month.
In real life
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