typewriter
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typewriter
A mechanical or electric machine with keys that can print letters and characters directly onto paper. It was the predecessor of the computer with word processing.
Meine Großmutter hat alle ihre Briefe auf einer alten Schreibmaschine getippt.
My grandmother typed all her letters on an old typewriter.
The word is a clear compound of the verb 'schreiben' (to write) and the noun 'die Maschine' (the machine). So it is literally a machine that you write with.
Im Museum steht eine alte Schreibmaschine aus dem 19. Jahrhundert.
There is an old typewriter from the 19th century in the museum.
When describing the activity, you use the preposition 'auf' (on). You write or type 'auf der Schreibmaschine' (on the typewriter).
Er lernte, mit zehn Fingern auf der Schreibmaschine zu tippen.
He learned to type with ten fingers on the typewriter.
The typical verb in connection with a typewriter is 'tippen' (to type). The sound that is produced is called 'klappern' or 'klackern' (to clatter / click-clack).
Man konnte das laute Klappern seiner Schreibmaschine durch die ganze Wohnung hören.
You could hear the loud clattering of his typewriter throughout the entire apartment.
printer
'der Drucker' and 'die Schreibmaschine' both put text or characters onto paper. The difference is how they work. A printer is a device connected to a computer or another digital device that prints finished documents. A typewriter has keys that you use to write text directly onto paper. Learners may confuse the words because in both cases, writing ends up on paper. Today, for modern computer devices, you say 'Drucker'; 'Schreibmaschine' refers more to an older device for typing directly.
Im Büro ihres Großvaters steht noch eine alte Schreibmaschine auf dem Tisch.
There is still an old typewriter on the table in her grandfather's office.
Kannst du den Drucker einschalten, damit ich den Vertrag ausdrucken kann?
Can you turn on the printer so I can print the contract?