mental
Relating to the mind, thinking, or the psyche; psychological or intellectual.
EXAMPLE
Mentale Stärke ist für Sportler genauso wichtig wie körperliche Fitness.
Mental strength is just as important for athletes as physical fitness.
mental
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Meanings
Usage tips
False friend
In German, 'mental' is a neutral word for 'geistig' (mental/intellectual) or 'psychisch' (psychological). It does not have the negative colloquial meaning 'crazy' that the English word 'mental' can sometimes have.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Krankheit brauchte er Zeit für seine mentale Erholung.
After the long illness, he needed time for his mental recovery.
Typical collocations
'Mental' is very often used in fixed combinations, especially in the context of health and performance. Typical examples are 'mentale Gesundheit' (mental health), 'mentale Stärke' (mental strength), 'mentale Belastung' (mental strain), and 'mentale Fitness' (mental fitness).
EXAMPLE
Yoga kann helfen, die mentale Gesundheit zu verbessern.
Yoga can help improve mental health.
Register and style
The word 'mental' is often used in psychological, medical, or sports contexts. It often sounds more specific and technical than the more general word 'geistig' (mental/intellectual).
EXAMPLE
Der Coach arbeitet mit den Athleten auch an ihrer mentalen Vorbereitung.
The coach also works with the athletes on their mental preparation.
Compare with
mental vs geistig
mental / spiritual
Geistig and mental can both refer to thinking or the psyche. Geistig often associates something more with intellectual ability, while mental particularly emphasizes psychological states, preparation, or coping internally. In overlapping cases, the desired nuance therefore determines the choice.
mental
Vor dem schwierigen Gespräch bereitete sie sich mental auf kritische Fragen vor.
Before the difficult conversation, she mentally prepared herself for critical questions.
geistig
Für diese schwierige Aufgabe braucht man geistige Konzentration.
This difficult task requires mental concentration.
In real life
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