die Nachtwache
night watch
A watch or guard duty carried out during the night.
EXAMPLE
Der Sicherheitsmitarbeiter übernahm heute die Nachtwache.
The security guard took over the night watch today.
die Nachtwache
night watch
die Nachtwache, die Nachtwachen
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Meanings
die Nachtwache
night watch
A person who keeps watch at night or is responsible for security.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachtwache kontrollierte regelmäßig die Türen des Gebäudes.
The night watch regularly checked the doors of the building.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Nachtwache, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Nachtwachen |
| genitive | der Nachtwache |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Nachtwache | die Nachtwachen |
| accusative | die Nachtwache | die Nachtwachen |
| dative | der Nachtwache | den Nachtwachen |
| genitive | der Nachtwache | der Nachtwachen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Compound word
'Nachtwache' (night watch) is made up of 'Nacht' (night) and 'Wache' (watch). The word can therefore refer both to the night watch duty and to the person who performs it.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachtwache beginnt um zehn Uhr abends und endet bei Sonnenaufgang.
The night watch begins at ten in the evening and ends at sunrise.
Context clue
Whether 'Nachtwache' (night watch) refers to the duty or to a person can often be recognized from the verb: activities such as 'übernehmen' (to take over) or 'machen' (to do) usually refer to the duty, while activities such as 'kontrollieren' (to check) or 'patrouillieren' (to patrol) usually refer to the person.
EXAMPLE
Für das Wochenende musste er die Nachtwache übernehmen.
He had to take over the night watch for the weekend.
Die Nachtwache patrouillierte mehrmals durch das Gebäude.
The night watch patrolled through the building several times.
Typical collocations
For the meaning of night watch duty, typical phrases include 'die Nachtwache übernehmen' (to take over the night watch), 'Nachtwache halten' (to stand night watch), and 'für die Nachtwache eingeteilt sein' (to be assigned to the night watch).
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Personalmangels musste sie am Freitag die Nachtwache übernehmen.
Because of the staff shortage, she had to take over the night watch on Friday.
In real life
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