das Quartett
quartet
A group of four musicians or singers who make music together.
EXAMPLE
Das Streichquartett spielte ein Stück von Mozart.
The string quartet played a piece by Mozart.
das Quartett
quartet
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Meanings
das Quartett
quartet
A card game in which the goal is to collect sets of four related cards (quartets).
EXAMPLE
Als Kinder haben wir stundenlang Auto-Quartett gespielt.
As children, we played car quartet for hours.
das Quartett
quartet
A musical composition written for four instruments or four vocal parts.
EXAMPLE
Beethovens spätes Quartett in a-Moll gilt als Meisterwerk.
Beethoven's late quartet in A minor is considered a masterpiece.
das Quartett
quartet
A group of four people or four things that belong together.
EXAMPLE
Das Quartett aus Architekten präsentierte gemeinsam den neuen Entwurf.
The quartet of architects presented the new design together.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word 'Quartett' (quartet) comes from the Latin numeral for 'four' (quartus). All meanings of the word therefore refer to a unit made up of four parts.
EXAMPLE
Ein Quartett aus vier Experten diskutierte das Thema im Fernsehen.
A quartet of four experts discussed the topic on television.
Music context clue
In a musical context, you can distinguish the meaning: Das Quartett (the group of musicians) plays ein Quartett (the composition). The verb makes the difference clear.
EXAMPLE
Das berühmte Amadeus-Quartett spielte gestern ein Quartett von Schubert.
The famous Amadeus Quartet played a quartet by Schubert yesterday.
Typical compounds
In music, 'Quartett' (quartet) is often used in compound words to describe the type of group. The most common form is 'das Streichquartett' (string quartet).
EXAMPLE
Sie singt in einem bekannten Vokalquartett.
She sings in a well-known vocal quartet.
The card game
As a card game, 'Quartett' (quartet) is usually used with the verb 'spielen' (to play). The theme of the game is often placed before it, e.g. 'Auto-Quartett spielen' (to play car quartet).
EXAMPLE
Früher habe ich mit meinem Bruder oft Flugzeug-Quartett gespielt.
I used to often play airplane quartet with my brother.
Stylistic nuance
When any group of four people is referred to as a 'Quartett' (quartet), it often sounds somewhat elevated or emphasizes the group's cohesion.
EXAMPLE
Das Quartett der Parteivorsitzenden traf sich zu einer Krisensitzung.
The quartet of party leaders met for a crisis meeting.
Compare with
Quartett vs Gruppe
group
Gruppe generally refers to several people or things that belong together without specifying their exact number. Quartett, by contrast, explicitly refers to a unit of exactly four people or things. When the fact that there are four members is the key point, Quartett fits; otherwise, Gruppe is more neutral.
Quartett
Auf der Bühne probt ein Quartett aus vier jungen Musikern.
A quartet of four young musicians is rehearsing onstage.
Gruppe
Auf der Bühne probt eine Gruppe junger Musiker.
A group of young musicians is rehearsing onstage.
In real life
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