die Mühle
mill
A building with a system in which grain (e.g., wheat or rye) is ground into flour.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Windmühle am Dorfrand wird heute als Museum genutzt.
The old windmill on the edge of the village is used as a museum today.
die Mühle
mill
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Meanings
die Mühle
grinder
A small device for grinding substances such as coffee, pepper, or other spices.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte die Pfeffermühle reichen?
Could you please pass me the pepper grinder?
Mühle
Nine Men's Morris
The name of a strategic board game for two people in which the goal is to capture the opponent's pieces by forming rows of three of one's own pieces.
EXAMPLE
Als Kinder haben wir stundenlang Mühle gespielt.
As children, we played Nine Men's Morris for hours.
Die Mühlen der Justiz mahlen langsam
The wheels of justice turn slowly
An idiom saying that court and administrative proceedings often take a very long time.
EXAMPLE
Er wartet seit zwei Jahren auf ein Urteil – die Mühlen der Justiz mahlen langsam.
He has been waiting for a verdict for two years—the wheels of justice turn slowly.
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Mühle' (mill/grinder) is closely related to the verb 'mahlen' (to grind). So a 'Mühle' is a place or a device where or with which something is ground, for example grain into flour.
EXAMPLE
Früher brachten die Bauern ihr Korn zur Mühle, um es mahlen zu lassen.
In the past, farmers brought their grain to the mill to have it ground.
Meaning in context
To understand the meaning of 'Mühle' (mill/grinder), pay attention to the context. Compound words like 'Windmühle' (windmill) or 'Wassermühle' (watermill) refer to a building, while 'Kaffeemühle' (coffee grinder) or 'Pfeffermühle' (pepper grinder) mean a small kitchen device. Without an added word, in conversation it often refers to the board game.
EXAMPLE
Für frischen Pfeffer benutze ich am liebsten meine alte Mühle.
For fresh pepper, I prefer to use my old grinder.
Use as a game
When 'Mühle' (Nine Men's Morris) refers to the board game, it is almost always used with the verb 'spielen' (to play). In this context, no article is often used.
EXAMPLE
Wollen wir eine Partie Mühle spielen?
Shall we play a game of Nine Men's Morris?
Fixed expression
The idiom 'Die Mühlen der Justiz mahlen langsam' (the wheels of justice turn slowly) is a fixed expression. It is used to criticize the fact that legal or bureaucratic processes take a very long time.
EXAMPLE
Bis er sein Geld zurückbekommt, kann es dauern, denn die Mühlen der Justiz mahlen langsam.
It may take a while before he gets his money back, because the wheels of justice turn slowly.
In real life
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