projector
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projector
An optical device that projects images or videos onto a projection surface, such as a screen or a wall. Colloquially, the term 'Beamer' is often used in German for digital video projectors.
Schließen Sie bitte den Laptop an den Projektor an, damit wir mit der Präsentation beginnen können.
Please connect the laptop to the projector so we can start the presentation.
'Projektor' (projector) belongs to the word family of 'projizieren' (to project, the verb) and 'die Projektion' (projection, the noun). All of these words have the basic idea of 'throwing' an image onto a surface.
Mit diesem Gerät können Sie Bilder auf eine Leinwand projizieren.
With this device, you can project images onto a screen.
Typical verbs used with a projector are 'einschalten' (to switch on), 'ausschalten' (to switch off), 'anschließen' (to connect), and 'einstellen' (to adjust). Often a laptop or another device is connected to it.
Kannst du bitte den Projektor schon mal einschalten?
Could you please switch on the projector already?
You connect a device 'an' den Projektor (to the projector, accusative). The image then appears 'auf' einer Leinwand (on a screen) or 'an' einer Wand (on a wall), both with the dative.
Das Bild auf der Leinwand ist unscharf.
The image on the screen is blurry.
projector / Beemer
'der Beamer' and 'der Projektor' both mean a device that projects images or videos onto a wall or screen. In everyday German, people very often say 'Beamer', especially for digital devices at school, in the office, or at home. 'Projektor' is more general and a bit more technical; the word can also fit other types of such devices. They can be confused because a modern 'Beamer' is actually a 'Projektor'. If you are talking about a presentation, 'Beamer' sounds very natural. In technical or general descriptions, 'Projektor' works well.
Für den Filmabend leiht meine Schwester einen Projektor aus.
For the movie night, my sister rents a projector.
Vor der Präsentation prüft Frau Schneider, ob der Beamer ein Bild zeigt.
Before the presentation, Ms. Schneider checks whether the projector is showing an image.