01
der Moment
moment
A very short, indefinite period of time; an instant.
example
Können Sie bitte einen Moment warten? Ich bin gleich fertig.
Could you please wait a moment? I'll be finished shortly.
der Moment
moment
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Meanings
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Usage tips
As a short request
The word 'Moment!' (one moment!) is often used on its own as a short, colloquial request to ask someone to wait briefly. It is a shortened form of 'Warten Sie einen Moment!' (Please wait a moment!).
EXAMPLE
Moment, ich muss kurz überlegen!
One moment, I need to think briefly!
Typical phrase
The phrase 'einen Moment' (a moment) is very commonly used as a polite request. It often appears with verbs like 'warten' (to wait), 'haben' (to have), or 'dauern' (to take/last).
EXAMPLE
Haben Sie einen Moment Zeit für mich?
Do you have a moment for me?
Fixed phrase for 'now'
The fixed phrase 'im Moment' means 'right now' or 'currently'. It often appears at the beginning or end of a sentence.
EXAMPLE
Im Moment kann ich Ihnen leider nicht helfen.
At the moment, unfortunately, I can't help you.
Sentence structure with relative clause
To describe an important point in time, the structure 'der Moment, in dem…' (the moment in which/when..., for a point in time) or 'der Moment, als…' (the moment when..., for an event) is often used.
EXAMPLE
Das war der Moment, in dem ich wusste, dass alles gut wird.
That was the moment when I knew everything would be okay.
Fixed phrase for 'suddenly'
The idiom 'von einem Moment auf den anderen' (from one moment to the next) is a fixed unit and means 'very suddenly' or 'unexpectedly'. It describes an abrupt change.
EXAMPLE
Von einem Moment auf den anderen war der Strom weg.
From one moment to the next, the power was gone.
Compare with
Moment vs Minute
minute
'die Minute' and 'der Moment' can both mean a very short period of time. However, 'eine Minute' often sounds a bit more concrete, because a minute can also be exactly sixty seconds. 'ein Moment' is less specific and tends to mean a brief instant or a specific point in time. Learners may confuse the words because in many situations you can say both, for example when waiting. If you mean a short, roughly measurable amount of time, 'Minute' fits better. If you just mean briefly, 'right away', or a special point in time, 'Moment' sounds more natural.
Moment
In diesem Moment hat Anna verstanden, dass sie den Schlüssel vergessen hatte.
At that moment, Anna understood that she had forgotten the key.
Minute
Warte bitte eine Minute, ich hole schnell meine Jacke.
Please wait a minute; I'll quickly get my jacket.
In real life
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