01
der Marathon
marathon
A long-distance race over an official distance of 42.195 kilometers.
example
Sie bereitet sich seit einem Jahr auf ihren ersten Marathon vor.
She has been preparing for her first marathon for a year.
der Marathon
marathon
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Cultural context
The name 'Marathon' comes from a Greek legend. A messenger is said to have run from the city of Marathon to Athens after a battle to deliver the news of the victory. This knowledge helps you understand the meaning of 'long, exhausting run.'
EXAMPLE
Die Geschichte des Marathonlaufs ist faszinierend.
The history of the marathon race is fascinating.
Typical verbs
In a sports context, 'Marathon' (marathon) is often combined with certain verbs. You can say 'einen Marathon laufen' (to run a marathon), 'für einen Marathon trainieren' (to train for a marathon), or 'einen Marathon absolvieren/finishen' (to complete/finish a marathon).
EXAMPLE
Mein Bruder trainiert dreimal pro Woche, um einen Marathon zu laufen.
My brother trains three times a week to run a marathon.
Figurative meaning
The characteristics of the race — long, exhausting, and requiring endurance — are transferred to other activities. A 'Marathon' (marathon) can therefore be any activity that costs a lot of time and energy.
EXAMPLE
Vor der Prüfung hatten wir einen richtigen Lernmarathon.
Before the exam, we had a real study marathon.
Compound words
In the figurative meaning, 'Marathon' (marathon) is often used as the second part of a compound noun to emphasize a long duration. Examples are 'Sitzungsmarathon' (meeting marathon), 'Verhandlungsmarathon' (negotiation marathon), or 'Filmmarathon' (film/movie marathon).
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende machen wir einen Filmmarathon und schauen alle Teile der Trilogie.
At the weekend, we're having a movie marathon and watching all parts of the trilogy.
Compare with
Marathon vs Sprint
sprint
'der Marathon' and 'der Sprint' stand in clear contrast to each other. In sports, a marathon is a very long race where endurance is important. A sprint is short and very fast. This difference remains the same in figurative use too: a marathon is a long, exhausting task, while a sprint is a short, intensive phase. So you choose 'Marathon' when something takes a long time, and 'Sprint' when something happens quickly and with a lot of energy.
Marathon
Nach monatelangem Training läuft Lisa am Sonntag ihren ersten Marathon.
After months of training, Lisa is running her first marathon on Sunday.
Sprint
Beim Sprint gab Tom auf den letzten Metern noch einmal alles.
In the sprint, Tom gave it everything he had over the last few meters.
In real life
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