01
national
Relating to, belonging to, or characteristic of an entire nation or state.
example
Die Mannschaft spielt in den nationalen Farben ihres Landes.
The team plays in the national colors of its country.
national
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'national' (national) is derived directly from the noun 'die Nation' (the nation). It always means that something has to do with a particular nation or an entire country.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung muss die Interessen der gesamten Nation vertreten.
The government must represent the interests of the entire nation.
Compound words
'National' (national) is often the first part of compound words. Well-known examples are 'die Nationalmannschaft' (the national team), 'der Nationalpark' (the national park), or 'die Nationalhymne' (the national anthem).
EXAMPLE
Die deutsche Nationalmannschaft hat das Spiel gewonnen.
The German national team won the match.
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'nationale Interessen' (national interests), 'nationale Gesetze' (national laws), 'nationale Ebene' (national level), or 'nationale Feiertage' (national holidays). These terms always refer to the entire state.
EXAMPLE
Der 3. Oktober ist ein nationaler Feiertag in Deutschland.
October 3 is a national holiday in Germany.
Compare with
national vs europäisch
European
'europäisch' and 'national' can both refer to politics, rules, culture, or areas of responsibility. The difference is the level: 'europäisch' means Europe or the European Union, while 'national' means an individual country or state. They can be confused when talking about laws, authorities, or interests. In that case, the important point is: if something applies to Europe or the EU, it is 'europäisch'; if it concerns only one country, it is 'national'.
national
Bitte bringen Sie Ihren nationalen Ausweis zur Behörde mit.
Please bring your national ID card with you to the government office.
europäisch
Im Unterricht sprechen wir heute über europäische Regeln zum Datenschutz.
In class today, we are talking about European rules on data protection.
In real life
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