lottery
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lottery
A state-organized game of chance in which you bet on a specific selection of numbers and can win cash prizes if they match the numbers drawn.
Er spielt jede Woche Lotto in der Hoffnung auf den großen Gewinn.
He plays the lottery every week in the hope of winning the jackpot.
'Lotto' (lottery) is the base for many compound nouns related to the game, such as 'der Lottoschein' (lottery ticket), 'die Lottozahlen' (lottery numbers), or 'der Lottogewinn' (lottery winnings).
Hast du schon die aktuellen Lottozahlen überprüft?
Have you already checked the current lottery numbers?
The most common verbs used with Lotto are 'Lotto spielen' (to play the lottery) and 'im Lotto gewinnen' (to win the lottery). Both are very common expressions.
Stell dir vor, wir würden im Lotto gewinnen!
Imagine if we won the lottery!
Pay attention to the usage: you say 'spielt Lotto' (plays the lottery), often without an article; the noun functions like an accusative object. But when someone wins, they win 'im Lotto' (in the lottery), with the preposition 'in' + dative.
Er spielt jeden Samstag Lotto.
He plays the lottery every Saturday.
In Germany, the best-known system is '6 aus 49' (6 out of 49). The phrase 'sechs Richtige im Lotto haben' (to have six correct numbers in the lottery) is proverbial for extreme luck.
Einen Parkplatz direkt vor der Tür zu finden, ist wie sechs Richtige im Lotto.
Finding a parking space right in front of the door is like getting all six numbers right in the lottery.
contest / prize draw
'Lotto' and 'Gewinnspiel' both have to do with winning and chance. But 'Lotto' is a specific game of chance: you pick numbers, and if they match the numbers drawn, you can win money. 'Gewinnspiel' is much more general. It can take place in a magazine, online, or in a store, and you might win money, a product, or a trip. Sometimes you only have to take part; sometimes you have to solve a task. The words can be confused because a prize is possible in both cases. When it is about numbers, a drawing, and a state-run lottery, you say 'Lotto'. For other promotions with prizes, 'Gewinnspiel' fits.
Mein Onkel spielt jeden Mittwoch Lotto und hofft auf sechs richtige Zahlen.
My uncle plays the lottery every Wednesday and hopes to get all six numbers right.
Meine Freundin hat bei einem Gewinnspiel im Supermarkt einen Einkaufsgutschein gewonnen.
My friend won a shopping voucher in a supermarket contest.