to relax
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to relax
To relax, rest, and recover, often after stress or effort. The word is a colloquial borrowing from English.
Am Wochenende will ich einfach nur zu Hause auf dem Sofa relaxen.
At the weekend, I just want to relax at home on the sofa.
As a loanword from English, 'relaxen' (to relax) forms the past participle without the prefix 'ge-'. So it is 'hat relaxt' (has relaxed), not 'hat gerelaxt'.
Nach der langen Wanderung haben wir am Abend nur noch relaxt.
After the long hike, we just relaxed in the evening.
The word 'relaxen' (to relax) is used mainly in informal colloquial speech. It is a very common everyday word, especially among younger people.
Was machst du heute Abend? – Ich glaube, ich relaxe einfach auf dem Balkon.
What are you doing this evening? – I think I'll just relax on the balcony.
'Relaxen' (to relax) is often connected with places or times of rest. Typical phrases are 'im Urlaub relaxen' (to relax on vacation), 'am Strand relaxen' (to relax on the beach), or 'am Wochenende einfach mal relaxen' (to just relax at the weekend).
Im Urlaub möchte ich am liebsten nur am Pool liegen und relaxen.
On vacation, I mostly just want to lie by the pool and relax.
to rest
Ruhen emphasizes doing nothing and regaining strength after exertion. Relaxen can also mean recovering, but it places more emphasis on pleasant relaxation and is colloquial. Ruhen is appropriate for physical recovery, while relaxen is often used for casually relaxing and doing nothing.
Nach dem stressigen Arbeitstag relaxe ich eine Stunde mit Musik auf dem Sofa.
After the stressful workday, I am relaxing on the sofa with music for an hour.
Nach dem anstrengenden Lauf ruhe ich eine Stunde, damit ich wieder zu Kräften komme.
After the strenuous run, I am resting for an hour so that I can regain my strength.
