01
der Schneeberg
snow-covered mountain
A mountain whose peak or slopes are covered with snow.
example
In der Ferne leuchtete ein hoher Schneeberg in der Morgensonne.
In the distance, a high snow-covered mountain shone in the morning sun.
der Schneeberg
snow-covered mountain / snow pile
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
This word has a very simple structure: it consists of 'der Schnee' (snow) and 'der Berg' (mountain). So the meaning is literally a 'Berg aus Schnee' (mountain of snow) or a 'Berg mit Schnee' (mountain with snow).
EXAMPLE
Vom Tal aus sahen wir die beeindruckenden Schneeberge der Alpen.
From the valley, we saw the impressive snow-covered mountains of the Alps.
Context clue
Whether a real mountain or just a pile of snow is meant is revealed by the context. Words like 'Gipfel' (summit), 'Alpen' (Alps), or 'in der Ferne' (in the distance) point to a real mountain. Terms like 'am Straßenrand' (at the side of the road), 'im Garten' (in the garden), or 'Schneepflug' (snowplow) point to a piled-up heap of snow.
EXAMPLE
Die Wanderer erreichten den Gipfel des Schneebergs am Nachmittag.
The hikers reached the summit of the snow-covered mountain in the afternoon.
Typical verbs
When a pile of snow is meant, it is often created by human activity. Typical verbs in this context are 'auftürmen' (to pile up), 'zusammenschieben' (to push together), or 'aufhäufen' (to heap up).
EXAMPLE
Der Schneepflug hat den Schnee zu einem hohen Berg aufgetürmt.
The snowplow piled the snow up into a high mound.
Compare with
Schneeberg vs Eisberg
iceberg
'der Eisberg' and 'der Schneeberg' sound similar and both have to do with cold, but they refer to different things. An 'Eisberg' is a large mass of ice floating in the sea. A 'Schneeberg' is either a snow-covered mountain or a large pile of snow, for example at the side of the road. It is easy to confuse the words because ice and snow belong together. The simple guide is: in the sea, you say 'Eisberg'. On mountains or on land after heavy snowfall, you say 'Schneeberg'.
Schneeberg
Nach dem Räumen lag vor der Einfahrt ein hoher Schneeberg.
After the snow was cleared, a high pile of snow lay in front of the driveway.
Eisberg
Das Schiff fuhr langsam an einem riesigen Eisberg vorbei.
The ship slowly passed a huge iceberg.
In real life
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