second half
Loading your saved state.
second half
The second half of a sports season, especially in a league in which each team plays every other team a second time.
In der Rückrunde hat der Verein fast alle Spiele gewonnen.
In the second half of the season, the club won almost all its games.
second phase
In a figurative sense, the second phase or second part of a period of time or process.
Nach der Sommerpause beginnt die politische Rückrunde des Jahres.
After the summer break, the political second half of the year begins.
The word is made up of 'Rück-' (from 'zurück' (back)) and 'Runde' (round). So it literally describes the 'returning round' or second round of a competition.
Die Mannschaft hofft, in der Rückrunde mehr Punkte zu sammeln.
The team hopes to collect more points in the second half of the season.
'Rückrunde' (second half of the season) forms a pair with 'die Hinrunde' (the first half of the season). The prefix pair 'Hin-' (movement away) and 'Rück-' (movement back) is very productive in German, e.g. in 'Hinflug' (outbound flight) and 'Rückflug' (return flight).
Nach der Hinrunde stand das Team auf dem dritten Platz.
After the first half of the season, the team was in third place.
This meaning is used almost exclusively in a sports context, especially in league competitions such as football, handball, or basketball.
Der Trainer hat für die Rückrunde eine neue Taktik angekündigt.
The coach has announced a new tactic for the second half of the season.
Common formulations are 'eine starke/schwache Rückrunde spielen' (to play a strong/weak second half of the season), 'in der Rückrunde ungeschlagen bleiben' (to remain unbeaten in the second half of the season), or 'die Rückrunde beginnt/startet' (the second half of the season begins/starts).
Letztes Jahr hat die Mannschaft eine sehr schwache Rückrunde gespielt.
Last year the team played a very weak second half of the season.
phase
Phase is a neutral term for a period within a process. Rückrunde, by contrast, specifically refers to the second part, usually with the idea of another round or repetition. Use “Phase” in general and “Rückrunde” when this second run-through is meant.
In der Rückrunde der Verhandlungen wurden die offenen Punkte erneut besprochen.
The outstanding points were discussed again in the second round of the negotiations.
In der zweiten Phase der Verhandlungen wurden die Details geklärt.
The details were clarified in the second phase of the negotiations.
