01
separat
separate
Spatially or factually separated from something else; individual and not connected or mixed.
example
Bitte reichen Sie die Dokumente in zwei separaten Umschlägen ein.
Please submit the documents in two separate envelopes.
separat
separate
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Meanings
Usage tips
Adjective and adverb
'Separat' (separate/separately) can stand before a noun as an adjective or be used as an adverb to modify a verb. As an adverb, it remains unchanged.
EXAMPLE
Wir hätten gern zwei separate Rechnungen.
We would like two separate bills.
Typical use
In everyday life, you often hear the word in restaurants when asking how people would like to pay. The question 'Zusammen oder separat?' (Together or separately?) means whether one person pays for everything or each person gets their own bill.
EXAMPLE
Kellner: „Zahlen Sie zusammen oder separat?“
Waiter: 'Are you paying together or separately?'
Typical collocations
Common combinations are 'separate Zimmer' (separate rooms), 'separate Eingänge' (separate entrances), or actions such as 'etwas separat halten' (to keep something separate), 'separat waschen' (to wash separately), or 'separat verpacken' (to package separately).
EXAMPLE
Die weiße Wäsche solltest du immer separat waschen.
You should always wash the white laundry separately.
Compare with
separat vs besonders
especially / special
'besonders' and 'separat' can be used in a similar way when they mean 'separate' or 'extra'. In that sense, both say that something is not handled, packed, or charged together with other things. 'separat' is very clear and often more natural in everyday speech. 'besonders' is also understandable in this meaning, but it sounds a bit more formal or less direct. Important: here, 'besonders' does not mean 'very' or 'exceptional'; it only means 'extra'.
separat
Bitte bewahre die Quittungen separat auf.
Please keep the receipts separate.
besonders
Die Mitarbeiterin legt die vertraulichen Dokumente besonders ab.
The staff member files the confidential documents separately.
In real life
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