mouth / muzzle / opening
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mouth
The place where a river or stream flows into another body of water, such as a lake, a sea, or a larger river.
Die Mündung des Rheins in die Nordsee liegt in den Niederlanden.
The mouth of the Rhine into the North Sea is in the Netherlands.
muzzle
The front opening of the barrel of a firearm, from which the projectile exits.
Der Jäger blickte durch das Zielfernrohr über die Mündung seines Gewehrs.
The hunter looked through the scope over the muzzle of his rifle.
opening
In anatomy, the opening through which a hollow organ or duct opens into another structure or to the outside.
Die Mündung der Speiseröhre in den Magen ist normalerweise durch einen Muskel verschlossen.
The opening of the esophagus into the stomach is normally closed by a muscle.
The noun 'Mündung' derives from the verb 'münden', which means 'to flow into' or 'to lead out'. The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a noun that describes the place or result of the action.
Der kleine Bach mündet direkt in den See.
The small stream flows directly into the lake.
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Mündung' from the context. Words like 'Fluss' (river), 'See' (lake), or 'Delta' (delta) point to the geographical meaning. Terms like 'Gewehr' (rifle), 'Pistole' (pistol), or 'Lauf' (barrel) indicate a weapon, while 'Magen' (stomach) or 'Darm' (intestine) mark the medical context.
An der Mündung des Flusses hat sich eine kleine Stadt entwickelt.
A small town has developed at the mouth of the river.
When a river flows into a body of water, the preposition 'in' is used with the accusative. To describe the location, you use 'an der' with the dative.
Die Donau hat ihre Mündung ins Schwarze Meer.
The Danube has its mouth in the Black Sea.
In the anatomical meaning, 'Mündung' is a technical term from medicine. In everyday life, you will rarely hear this use, except in a conversation with a doctor.
Der Arzt erklärte die Funktion der Mündung des Gallengangs.
The doctor explained the function of the opening of the bile duct.
opening
Öffnung can generally refer to any hole or open part. In the context of a firearm, Mündung is the firmly established term for the front opening of the barrel. Use Mündung in that context, while Öffnung describes only the shape and is less precise.
Der Sicherheitsbeauftragte kontrollierte die Mündung des Gewehrlaufs.
The safety officer inspected the muzzle of the rifle.
Der Techniker untersuchte die kleine Öffnung an der Vorderseite des Geräts.
The technician examined the small opening on the front of the device.
