meme
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meme
An image, video, or text, usually humorous in nature, that spreads quickly across the internet and is often slightly modified by users. In German, the English term 'Meme' is used more often.
Das Bild von der mürrischen Katze wurde zu einem weltberühmten Mem.
The picture of the grumpy cat became a world-famous meme.
'Das Mem' is a loanword from English ('meme'). In everyday German, especially on the internet, the English form 'das Meme' (plural: 'die Memes') is used very frequently, often with English pronunciation.
Hast du das neue Meme mit der Katze schon gesehen?
Have you already seen the new meme with the cat?
In the context of the internet, 'Mem' (meme) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical phrases are: 'ein Mem erstellen' (to create a meme), 'ein Mem teilen' (to share a meme), or 'zu einem Mem werden' (to become a meme).
Dieses Video ist so lustig, es wird bestimmt bald zu einem Mem.
This video is so funny, it will definitely become a meme soon.
You can recognize the scientific meaning from the context. If the topic is culture, evolution, ideas, or the scientist Richard Dawkins, the original definition of a spreading cultural unit is meant.
In seinem Buch beschreibt er die Verbreitung von Modetrends als Mem.
In his book, he describes the spread of fashion trends as a meme.
trend
'der Trend' and 'das Mem' can both refer to something that spreads quickly in a group or on the internet. But a 'Trend' is a general direction or development, for example in fashion, technology, or society. 'das Mem' usually means a specific image, video, or short text that is shared online and often changed. The words can be confused because a Mem can become very popular and become part of a trend. So a trend is the larger movement; a Mem is usually an individual piece of internet content.
Das Mem mit der müden Katze wurde heute in vielen Chats geteilt.
The meme with the tired cat was shared in many chats today.
Kurze Videos sind gerade ein großer Trend in den sozialen Medien.
Short videos are currently a major trend on social media.