reef / riff
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reef
A rock or sandbank in the sea that reaches close to the surface of the water. Coral reefs, which are formed by marine organisms, are especially well known.
Das Schiff lief auf ein Riff und begann zu sinken.
The ship ran onto a reef and began to sink.
riff
In music, especially in jazz, rock, and pop, a short, distinctive, and often repeated musical phrase usually played by the guitar or bass.
Der Gitarrist spielte ein eingängiges Riff, das jeder im Publikum sofort wiedererkannte.
The guitarist played a catchy riff that everyone in the audience recognized immediately.
You can always tell from context whether 'Riff' means a reef in the sea or a riff in music. Words like 'Meer' (sea), 'tauchen' (to dive), 'Schiff' (ship), or 'Koralle' (coral) point to the rock formation (m01). Words like 'Gitarre' (guitar), 'Song' (song), 'Band' (band), or 'spielen' (to play) point to the musical phrase (m02).
Vorsicht, das Schiff nähert sich einem unsichtbaren Riff!
Careful, the ship is approaching an invisible reef!
In a maritime context, people often speak of a 'Korallenriff' (coral reef) or a 'Felsenriff' (rocky reef). A danger for ships is 'auf ein Riff auflaufen' (to run aground on a reef).
Das Schiff ist bei Nacht auf ein Riff aufgelaufen und gesunken.
The ship ran aground on a reef at night and sank.
A musical riff is often a 'Gitarren-Riff' (guitar riff) or 'Bass-Riff' (bass riff). It can be 'eingängig' (catchy), 'markant' (distinctive), or 'berühmt' (famous), and is 'gespielt' (played) by a musician.
Dieser Song hat eines der berühmtesten Gitarren-Riffs der Rockgeschichte.
This song has one of the most famous guitar riffs in rock history.
motive / motif
Motiv and Riff can both refer to a short musical idea. Motiv is the more general term for a creative element in music. Riff is more specific: it is a distinctive, often repeated phrase, usually played by the guitar or bass, especially in jazz, rock, or pop.
Die kurze wiederholte Gitarrenphrase bildet das zentrale Riff des Stücks.
The short repeated guitar phrase forms the central riff of the piece.
Die vier aufsteigenden Töne bilden ein Motiv, das im ganzen Stück wiederkehrt.
The four ascending notes form a motif that recurs throughout the piece.
