straight-line distance
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straight-line distance
The shortest, direct distance between two geographic points, as if you were flying between them through the air. Obstacles such as mountains or detours via roads are not taken into account.
Die Entfernung zwischen Hamburg und München beträgt Luftlinie etwa 612 Kilometer.
The distance between Hamburg and Munich is about 612 kilometers as the crow flies.
The word is a simple compound made up of 'Luft' (air) and 'Linie' (line). Figuratively, it describes the shortest connection, as if drawing a straight line through the air.
Eine Drohne kann die Strecke oft in direkter Luftlinie fliegen.
A drone can often fly the route in a direct straight line through the air.
'Luftlinie' (straight-line distance) is often used like an adverb after a distance. For example, you say 'Die Entfernung beträgt 10 Kilometer Luftlinie' (The distance is 10 kilometers as the crow flies).
Von unserem Haus bis zum See sind es nur zwei Kilometer Luftlinie.
From our house to the lake, it is only two kilometers as the crow flies.
'Luftlinie' (straight-line distance) is frequently used with the verb 'betragen' (to amount to / to be) or in the fixed phrase 'in gerader Luftlinie' (in a direct straight line / as the crow flies).
Die Distanz zwischen den beiden Inseln beträgt in gerader Luftlinie nur 50 Kilometer.
The distance between the two islands is only 50 kilometers in a direct straight line.
route / distance
'die Strecke' and 'die Luftlinie' both describe a distance between two places. 'Strecke' usually means the actual route that you walk, drive, or cover. This can include roads, curves, or detours. 'Luftlinie' means only the direct distance between two points, as if you were flying straight through the air. The words are easy to confuse because both can be given in kilometers. In practical terms: 'Strecke' is the real route, while 'Luftlinie' is the shortest direct distance.
Die Stadt liegt nur zehn Kilometer Luftlinie von unserem Dorf entfernt.
The city is only ten kilometers from our village as the crow flies.
Bei schlechtem Wetter dauert die Strecke durch den Wald länger als sonst.
In bad weather, the route through the forest takes longer than usual.