mater
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mater
Latin for "mother," nowadays used almost exclusively as part of the term "Alma Mater" (nourishing mother), which refers to a university or college where one has studied.
Er kehrte für einen Vortrag an seine Alma Mater zurück.
He returned to his alma mater for a lecture.
The word 'Mater' comes directly from Latin and means 'Mutter' (mother). This original meaning helps explain the different uses: the university as a 'nourishing mother' (Alma Mater) or the meninges as a protective covering.
Viele Absolventen spenden Geld an ihre Alma Mater.
Many graduates donate money to their alma mater.
In modern German, 'Mater' is almost never used on its own. It is almost always part of a fixed term such as 'Alma Mater', 'Pia Mater', or 'Dura Mater'.
Er spricht immer mit großem Respekt von seiner Alma Mater.
He always speaks of his alma mater with great respect.
You can recognize the meaning from the accompanying word. 'Alma Mater' refers to the university. 'Pia Mater' or 'Dura Mater' are medical technical terms for parts of the meninges.
Die Nobelpreisträgerin besuchte ihre Alma Mater für eine Gastvorlesung.
The Nobel Prize winner visited her alma mater for a guest lecture.
In anatomy, 'Mater' is a short form for the meninges. The terms 'Pia Mater' (soft meninx) and 'Dura Mater' (hard meninx) are international technical terms that are also used in German.
Eine Verletzung der Dura Mater kann lebensgefährlich sein.
An injury to the dura mater can be life-threatening.
mother / nut
'die Mutter' and 'die Mater' are linguistically connected to the idea of 'mother', but they are used very differently. 'die Mutter' is the normal German word for the female parent. 'die Mater' is not a normal everyday word for a mother. Today you see it almost only in fixed terms like 'Alma Mater', meaning a university or college where someone studied. For that reason, the words are not freely interchangeable. For family, you say 'Mutter', not 'Mater'.
Nach vielen Jahren besuchte Herr Schneider seine Alma Mater wieder.
After many years, Mr. Schneider visited his alma mater again.
Am Wochenende ruft Sofia ihre Mutter an.
Sofia calls her mother on the weekend.