parking space / parking lot
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parking space / parking lot
A specially designated area where vehicles such as cars or motorcycles can be parked.
In der Innenstadt ist es schwierig, einen freien Parkplatz zu finden.
In the city center, it is difficult to find a free parking space.
The word 'Parkplatz' (parking space / parking lot) is a simple compound made from the verb 'parken' (to park) and the noun 'der Platz' (place/space). So it literally means 'a place to park.'
Der Parkplatz des Supermarktes war schon am Morgen voll.
The supermarket parking lot was already full in the morning.
With 'Parkplatz' (parking space / parking lot), the preposition 'auf' is used. Pay attention to the case: movement is expressed with the accusative ('auf den Parkplatz fahren' — to drive onto the parking lot), while a location is expressed with the dative ('auf dem Parkplatz stehen' — to be parked/standing in the parking lot).
Er fährt gerade auf den letzten freien Parkplatz.
He is just driving into the last free parking space.
Common verbs used with 'Parkplatz' (parking space / parking lot) are 'einen Parkplatz suchen' (to look for a parking space), 'einen Parkplatz finden' (to find a parking space), or 'einen Parkplatz reservieren' (to reserve a parking space).
Am Bahnhof kann man online einen Parkplatz reservieren.
At the train station, you can reserve a parking space online.
gap
'der Parkplatz' and 'die Lücke' can both mean a place where you can park a car. 'Parkplatz' is the normal and precise word for a designated area for parking, for example in front of a supermarket or at the side of the road. When parking, 'Lücke' more specifically means the free space between other cars. The word sounds more situational: you see an open spot and may be able to park there. The words can be confused because in everyday life people sometimes say that they found a 'Lücke'. So a 'Parkplatz' is the official or general parking space, while a 'Lücke' is the free gap that the car fits into.
Vor dem Bahnhof finde ich selten einen freien Parkplatz.
I rarely find a free parking space in front of the train station.
Nach zwei Runden um den Block hat Paul endlich eine Lücke zwischen zwei Autos gefunden.
After driving around the block twice, Paul finally found a gap between two cars.