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.
distance / removal
Entfernung is the general term for the distance between two places. Luftlinie, on the other hand, specifically refers to the shortest direct distance, without detours along roads. Use Entfernung when asking generally about the distance; when only the direct distance counts, Luftlinie is more precise.
Die Luftlinie zwischen den beiden Dörfern beträgt nur acht Kilometer.
The straight-line distance between the two villages is only eight kilometers.
Die Entfernung zwischen den beiden Dörfern beträgt über die Straße zwölf Kilometer.
The distance between the two villages is twelve kilometers by road.
