supporting role / minor role
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supporting role
A role in a play, film, or series that is not the main character but still contributes to the plot.
Der Schauspieler gewann einen Oscar für die beste Nebenrolle.
The actor won an Oscar for best supporting role.
The word is made up of 'neben' (beside, secondary) and 'die Rolle' (role). So it literally describes a role that exists 'beside' the most important role.
Er spielt nicht die Hauptfigur, sondern eine Figur daneben – eine Nebenrolle.
He does not play the main character, but a character next to it — a supporting role.
In the context of film and theater, 'Nebenrolle' (supporting role) is often used with verbs such as 'spielen' (to play), 'haben' (to have), 'bekommen' (to get), or 'besetzen' (to cast). The combination 'für eine Nebenrolle ausgezeichnet werden' (to receive an award for a supporting role) is also common.
Sie wurde für ihre erste Nebenrolle in einem Kinofilm gelobt.
She was praised for her first supporting role in a feature film.
In the figurative meaning, the combination with the verb 'spielen' (to play) is especially common. The fixed expression 'eine Nebenrolle spielen' (to play a minor role) means that something is less important or stays in the background.
Bei dieser Entscheidung spielte die Meinung der Mitarbeiter nur eine Nebenrolle.
In this decision, the employees' opinion played only a minor role.
role / roll
'die Rolle' and 'die Nebenrolle' can both refer to a character in a film or play. 'die Rolle' is the general term: it can be large, small, important, or unimportant. 'die Nebenrolle' is more specific and means a role that is not at the center of the story. In a figurative sense, too, 'Rolle' can mean a function or importance, while 'Nebenrolle' means a less important function. Learners may confuse the words because every supporting role is a role, but not every role is a supporting role.
Der Verkäufer spielt in der Serie nur eine Nebenrolle, ist aber sehr lustig.
The salesman only plays a supporting role in the series, but he is very funny.
Meine Schwester bekommt in dem Theaterstück eine wichtige Rolle.
My sister gets an important role in the play.