die Libelle
dragonfly
An insect with a long body, large wings, and large eyes that usually lives near bodies of water.
EXAMPLE
Eine blaue Libelle setzte sich auf das Schilf.
A blue dragonfly landed on the reeds.
die Libelle
dragonfly / spirit level vial
die Libelle, die Libellen
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Meanings
die Libelle
spirit level vial
A small glass tube containing liquid and an air bubble, used in a measuring instrument to determine whether something is horizontal or vertical.
EXAMPLE
Die Libelle der Wasserwaage zeigt an, dass das Regal gerade hängt.
The spirit level vial shows that the shelf is level.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Libelle, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Libellen |
| genitive | der Libelle |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Libelle | die Libellen |
| accusative | die Libelle | die Libellen |
| dative | der Libelle | den Libellen |
| genitive | der Libelle | der Libellen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can usually identify the meaning from the context: references to wings, insects, or bodies of water indicate the animal. In the context of a spirit level or checking whether something is level, 'Libelle' (spirit level vial) refers to the small component inside the measuring instrument.
EXAMPLE
Am Teich beobachteten wir eine Libelle mit glänzenden Flügeln.
We watched a dragonfly with shiny wings by the pond.
Die Luftblase in der Libelle der Wasserwaage steht genau in der Mitte.
The air bubble in the spirit level vial is exactly in the middle.
Typical collocations
When referring to the insect, 'Libelle' (dragonfly) is often used with verbs related to flying and observing, for example 'eine Libelle fliegt' (a dragonfly flies), 'eine Libelle beobachten' (to watch a dragonfly), or 'eine Libelle setzt sich auf etwas' (a dragonfly lands on something).
EXAMPLE
Eine grüne Libelle flog mehrere Minuten über dem Teich.
A green dragonfly flew over the pond for several minutes.
Measuring instrument context
In its technical sense, 'Libelle' (spirit level vial) is particularly common alongside 'Wasserwaage' (spirit level). The position of the air bubble indicates whether a surface is horizontal or vertical.
EXAMPLE
Bei dieser Wasserwaage ist die Libelle beschädigt, deshalb misst sie nicht mehr genau.
The vial in this spirit level is damaged, so the level no longer measures accurately.
In real life
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