scout
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scout
A member of an international youth movement that focuses on outdoor activities, community, and the development of practical skills.
Als Pfadfinder hat er gelernt, wie man ohne Kompass im Wald navigiert.
As a scout, he learned how to navigate in the forest without a compass.
The word is made up of 'Pfad' (path) and 'Finder' (someone who finds something). A 'Pfadfinder' (scout) is therefore literally a person who finds paths, which fits well with outdoor activities.
Die Gruppe der Pfadfinder suchte einen Weg durch den dichten Wald.
The group of scouts looked for a way through the dense forest.
The word belongs to a family of terms related to the youth movement. The activity itself is often called 'Pfadfinderei' (scouting), and a group is called 'die Pfadfinder' (the scouts, plural).
Er war viele Jahre bei den Pfadfindern aktiv.
He was active in the scouts for many years.
Scouts are often associated with certain outdoor activities, such as 'ein Zelt aufbauen' (to set up a tent), 'am Lagerfeuer sitzen' (to sit by the campfire), 'Knoten lernen' (to learn knots), or 'sich in der Natur orientieren' (to find one's bearings in nature).
Im Sommer fahren die Pfadfinder immer ins Zeltlager.
In summer, the scouts always go to camp.
scout
'der Pfadfinder' and 'der Scout' can both mean a member of the Scout movement. In this sense, they are very similar. 'Pfadfinder' is the normal and clear word in German. 'Scout' sounds more international and can also appear in the names of groups or in English-influenced contexts. There is a risk of confusion because 'Scout' can also have other meanings, for example a person who looks for talent. When talking about the youth movement, 'Pfadfinder' is usually more unambiguous.
Am Wochenende schläft der Pfadfinder mit seiner Gruppe im Zelt.
At the weekend, the scout sleeps in a tent with his group.
In der internationalen Gruppe lernen die Scouts, wie man ein Feuer sicher macht.
In the international group, the scouts learn how to make a fire safely.