01
oral
Refers to something that is spoken and not written; verbal.
example
Die Prüfung besteht aus einem oralen und einem schriftlichen Teil.
The exam consists of an oral and a written part.
oral
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Register and usage
The word 'oral' (oral) is a loanword from Latin. It is mainly used in formal, academic, or medical contexts and often sounds very technical in everyday conversation.
EXAMPLE
Die Ergebnisse wurden in einem oralen Bericht vorgestellt.
The results were presented in an oral report.
Context clues
You can recognize the exact meaning of 'oral' (oral) from the noun it describes. An 'orale Prüfung' (oral exam) refers to speaking, while 'orale Hygiene' (oral hygiene) refers to the mouth.
EXAMPLE
Für eine gute orale Gesundheit ist regelmäßiges Zähneputzen wichtig.
Regular toothbrushing is important for good oral health.
Typical collocations
In educational contexts, 'oral' (oral) is often combined with words like 'Prüfung' (exam), 'Beitrag' (contribution), 'Kommunikation' (communication), or 'Tradition' (tradition) to emphasize the spoken form.
EXAMPLE
Viele Kulturen haben eine reiche orale Erzähltradition.
Many cultures have a rich oral storytelling tradition.
Medical context
In medicine, 'oral' (oral) describes the route through the mouth. Common combinations are 'orale Einnahme' (oral intake) of tablets, 'orale Anwendung' (oral use), or 'orale Dosis' (oral dose).
EXAMPLE
Dieses Schmerzmittel ist für die orale Anwendung gedacht.
This painkiller is intended for oral use.
Compare with
oral vs schriftlich
written
'schriftlich' and 'oral' both describe the form in which information is passed on. Here they are opposites: 'schriftlich' means that something is written, for example on paper or in an email. 'oral' means that something is spoken; in everyday German, people usually say 'mündlich' for this. In exams, contracts, or agreements, the difference is important: written things can be read again later, while oral things are said and not recorded as text.
oral
Im Sprachkurs gibt es am Ende eine orale Prüfung.
At the end of the language course, there is an oral exam.
schriftlich
Für den Antrag braucht meine Mutter eine schriftliche Bestätigung.
For the application, my mother needs written confirmation.
In real life
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