01
die Nachahmung
imitation
The process in which the behavior, appearance, or work of another person or thing is copied.
example
Kinder lernen oft durch die Nachahmung ihrer Eltern.
Children often learn through the imitation of their parents.
die Nachahmung
imitation
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word family
The word is derived from the separable verb 'nachahmen' (to imitate). The ending '-ung' turns the verb into a feminine noun that describes the process or result of the action.
EXAMPLE
Er versucht, den Stil seines Lieblingskünstlers nachzuahmen.
He is trying to imitate the style of his favorite artist.
Sentence structure
To express what is being imitated, German usually uses the genitive or the preposition 'von' with the dative. The genitive is somewhat more formal.
EXAMPLE
Seine Geste war eine Nachahmung seines Vaters.
His gesture was an imitation of his father.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context: if it is about behavior or a process, the action is meant. If it is about a concrete product that can be bought, the copy is meant.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachahmung von Tierstimmen erfordert viel Übung.
The imitation of animal sounds requires a lot of practice.
Fixed expression
The expression 'zur Nachahmung empfohlen' (recommended for imitation) means that a behavior is exemplary and should be copied. The opposite is 'nicht zur Nachahmung empfohlen' (not recommended for imitation).
EXAMPLE
Sein Engagement für die Umwelt ist zur Nachahmung empfohlen.
His commitment to the environment is recommended for imitation.
Typical collocations
When referring to a copy, 'Nachahmung' (imitation) is often combined with adjectives that evaluate the quality, e.g. 'eine billige Nachahmung' (a cheap imitation), 'eine perfekte Nachahmung' (a perfect imitation), or 'eine plumpe Nachahmung' (a clumsy imitation).
EXAMPLE
Die Tasche war nur eine billige Nachahmung des Originals.
The bag was just a cheap imitation of the original.
Compare with
Nachahmung vs Kopie
copy
'die Kopie' and 'die Nachahmung' can both refer to something that is very similar to an original. 'die Kopie' puts more emphasis on the result: there is a second item, image, or work that resembles the original as closely as possible. 'die Nachahmung' can also refer to the process, meaning that someone imitates a behavior, a style, or a work. With products, 'Nachahmung' often sounds somewhat negative because it may not be genuine or may be less good. The words can be confused when talking about art, design, or products. 'Kopie' fits more for the finished second version, while 'Nachahmung' fits more for the act of imitating or for a product that is not quite genuine.
Nachahmung
Die Tasche sieht teuer aus, ist aber nur eine billige Nachahmung.
The bag looks expensive, but it is only a cheap imitation.
Kopie
Im Museum hängt nur eine Kopie des alten Gemäldes.
Only a copy of the old painting is hanging in the museum.
In real life
Loading video examples...