01
das Mikro
mic
A colloquial short form of the word 'Mikrofon' (microphone).
example
Kannst du bitte etwas näher ans Mikro gehen? Man versteht dich schlecht.
Could you please move a bit closer to the mic? It's hard to understand you.
das Mikro
mic
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word formation
'Mikro' (mic) is a typical German abbreviation. The longer, more formal word 'Mikrofon' (microphone) is often shortened this way in everyday language.
EXAMPLE
Der Sänger hat sein eigenes Mikro dabei.
The singer has his own mic with him.
Register
This word is used almost exclusively in colloquial language. In formal or written contexts, 'Mikrofon' (microphone) is the usual choice.
EXAMPLE
Gib mir mal das Mikro rüber, ich will auch was sagen.
Pass me the mic, I want to say something too.
Typical collocations
Common phrases are 'ins Mikro sprechen' (to speak into the mic) or 'am Mikro stehen' (to be at the mic). The preposition indicates whether it is about direction (accusative) or location (dative).
EXAMPLE
Sprich bitte lauter ins Mikro.
Please speak louder into the mic.
Compare with
Mikro vs Mikrofon
microphone
'das Mikro' and 'das Mikrofon' mean the same device. The difference is mainly in style. 'Mikro' is the short, colloquial form and sounds very natural in conversation. 'Mikrofon' is the full form and works well in neutral, technical, or somewhat more formal situations. The words are easy to confuse because they refer to the same thing. If you are speaking casually, 'Mikro' is normal. If you want to be more precise or more formal, use 'Mikrofon'.
Mikro
Mehmet merkt erst in der Schule, dass sein Mikro nicht funktioniert.
Mehmet only realizes at school that his mic is not working.
Mikrofon
Vor dem Vortrag prüft sie das Mikrofon am Rednerpult.
Before the presentation, she checks the microphone at the lectern.
In real life
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