rope
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rope
A strong, thick cord made of twisted natural or synthetic fibers or of wire, used for pulling, lifting, fastening, or climbing.
Der Bergsteiger sicherte sich mit einem Seil am Felsen.
The mountain climber secured himself to the rock with a rope.
The word 'Seil' (rope) is the basis for many compound nouns that describe the type or purpose of the rope more precisely. If you see '-seil' at the end of a word, you can often infer the meaning.
Für die Bergtour braucht man ein spezielles Kletterseil.
For the mountain tour, you need a special climbing rope.
Common verbs used with 'Seil' (rope) describe actions of fastening, pulling, or moving. Typical combinations are 'ein Seil spannen' (to stretch/set up a rope), 'an einem Seil ziehen' (to pull on a rope), and 'sich mit einem Seil sichern' (to secure oneself with a rope).
Die Arbeiter zogen das schwere Paket mit einem Seil nach oben.
The workers pulled the heavy package upward with a rope.
The figurative expression 'auf dem Seil tanzen' (to walk a tightrope) is often intensified with adjectives like 'dünn' (thin) or 'schmal' (narrow) to emphasize the particular danger or difficulty of the situation.
Mit seiner Entscheidung tanzt der Politiker auf einem sehr dünnen Seil.
With his decision, the politician is walking a very thin tightrope.
cable
'das Kabel' and 'das Seil' can both mean a long, strong connection used to hold, pull, or fasten something. 'Seil' is the normal word for a thick rope, for example when climbing, pulling, or tying something down. In this context, 'Kabel' refers more to a very strong technical rope, often made of steel, for example in bridges, cranes, or heavy loads. The words can be confused because a steel cable works like a rope. In everyday language, 'Seil' is usually more natural; in technology, construction, or with heavy loads, 'Kabel' can be more precise.
Im Garten befestigen wir die Schaukel mit einem festen Seil.
In the garden, we fasten the swing with a strong rope.
Das schwere Kabel hält die Brücke auch bei starkem Wind stabil.
The heavy cable keeps the bridge stable even in strong winds.