01
der Rasenmäher
lawn mower
A device or machine used to cut the lawn to an even height.
example
Am Samstagmorgen hört man in der Nachbarschaft oft die Rasenmäher.
On Saturday mornings, you often hear lawn mowers in the neighborhood.
der Rasenmäher
lawn mower
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Meanings
Usage tips
Compound word
'Rasenmäher' (lawn mower) is made up of 'der Rasen' (lawn) and the verb 'mähen' (to mow). The ending '-er' turns the verb 'mähen' into a noun for the device that performs this action.
EXAMPLE
Ein Gärtner ist eine Person, die gärtnert; ein Rasenmäher ist ein Gerät, das den Rasen mäht.
A gardener is a person who gardens; a lawn mower is a device that mows the lawn.
Typical use
The most common and natural action is 'mit dem Rasenmäher den Rasen mähen' (to mow the lawn with the lawn mower). Other typical verbs are 'den Rasenmäher starten' (to start the lawn mower), 'benutzen' (to use), or 'reparieren' (to repair).
EXAMPLE
Ich muss am Wochenende mit dem Rasenmäher den Rasen mähen.
I have to mow the lawn with the lawn mower this weekend.
Cultural context
In Germany, there are legal or local 'Ruhezeiten' (quiet hours), especially at midday and on Sundays and public holidays. During these times, the use of loud devices such as a lawn mower is prohibited.
EXAMPLE
Am Sonntag darf man in Deutschland keinen Rasenmäher benutzen, um die Ruhe der Nachbarn nicht zu stören.
In Germany, you are not allowed to use a lawn mower on Sunday, so as not to disturb the neighbors' peace and quiet.
Compare with
Rasenmäher vs Sense
scythe
'die Sense' and 'der Rasenmäher' can both be used to cut grass. The difference lies in the tool and the typical situation. A 'Sense' is an old hand tool with a long handle and a curved blade. It is used more on meadows or where tall grass is mowed by hand. A 'Rasenmäher' is a device or machine for a garden lawn and cuts the grass evenly short. The words can be confused because both have to do with mowing. For a normal garden, you usually say 'Rasenmäher'; for the traditional tool, you say 'Sense'.
Rasenmäher
Am Samstag holt Max den Rasenmäher aus der Garage und kürzt den Gartenrasen.
On Saturday, Max gets the lawn mower out of the garage and cuts the garden lawn.
Sense
Auf der Wiese mäht der Bauer das hohe Gras mit einer Sense.
In the meadow, the farmer mows the tall grass with a scythe.
In real life
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