der Pickel
pimple
A small, often inflamed bump on the skin that forms because of a clogged pore.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem wichtigen Termin hat er einen großen Pickel auf der Nase bekommen.
Before the important appointment, he got a big pimple on his nose.
der Pickel
pimple / pickaxe
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Meanings
der Pickel
pickaxe
A tool with a pointed or chisel-shaped metal end and a long handle, used for breaking up hard ground, rock, or ice. A synonym for 'Spitzhacke' (pickaxe).
EXAMPLE
Die Arbeiter benutzten einen Pickel, um den gefrorenen Boden aufzubrechen.
The workers used a pickaxe to break up the frozen ground.
Usage tips
False friend
'Der Pickel' sounds like the English word 'pickle', but it has a completely different meaning. A 'Pickel' is a skin blemish or a tool. A pickled cucumber is called 'die Gewürzgurke' or 'die Essiggurke' in German.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe einen nervigen Pickel auf der Stirn.
I have an annoying pimple on my forehead.
Context clue
The context tells you whether the skin blemish or the tool is meant. Words like 'Gesicht' (face), 'Haut' (skin), or 'bekommen' (to get) point to the skin blemish. Words like 'Gestein' (rock), 'Boden' (ground), or 'Arbeiter' (workers) point to the tool.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat einen kleinen Pickel am Kinn.
She has a small pimple on her chin.
Typical collocations
In connection with skin blemishes, the verbs 'haben' (to have) and 'bekommen' (to get) are very common. A typical colloquial phrase is also 'einen Pickel ausdrücken' (to pop a pimple).
EXAMPLE
Man sollte Pickel nicht ausdrücken, da es zu Entzündungen führen kann.
You shouldn't pop pimples, as it can lead to inflammation.
Typical collocations
When the tool is meant, it is often used with verbs like 'benutzen' (to use), 'schwingen' (to swing), or in combination with materials like 'Fels' (rock), 'Eis' (ice), or 'harter Boden' (hard ground).
EXAMPLE
Mit einem Pickel schlugen die Bergsteiger Stufen ins Eis.
With a pickaxe, the mountaineers cut steps into the ice.
Compare with
Pickel vs Akne
acne
Akne refers to the skin condition as a whole, whereas a Pickel normally means a single inflamed bump. In the plural, Pickel can also colloquially refer to the visible effects of acne. Use Akne for the condition and Pickel when you mean one or more individual spots.
Pickel
Wegen der Pubertät hat Lena heute viele Pickel im Gesicht.
Because of puberty, Lena has a lot of pimples on her face today.
Akne
Wegen der Pubertät hat Lena heute Akne im Gesicht.
Because of puberty, Lena has acne on her face today.
In real life
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