spam
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spam
Unwanted electronic messages that are sent in large numbers, usually for advertising purposes. It refers mainly to emails, but also to messages on social media or in messaging apps.
Ich muss dringend meinen Spam-Ordner leeren, er ist schon wieder voll.
I urgently need to empty my spam folder; it's full again already.
'Spam' is a word from English that is also used in German. Pay attention to the gender: it is 'der Spam' (spam), masculine.
Der Spam in meinem Postfach wird immer mehr.
The spam in my inbox is getting worse and worse.
'Spam' is treated as an uncountable noun (mass noun) and is therefore almost always used in the singular. If you mean individual messages, you say 'eine Spam-Mail' (a spam email) or 'mehrere Spam-Mails' (several spam emails).
Ich habe heute schon wieder 50 Spam-Mails bekommen.
I've already received 50 spam emails again today.
Common combinations are 'Spam bekommen/erhalten' (to get/receive spam), 'Spam löschen' (to delete spam), or 'als Spam markieren' (to mark as spam). Many email programs also have a 'Spam-Ordner' (spam folder) or a 'Spam-Filter' (spam filter).
Diese Nachricht wurde automatisch als Spam markiert.
This message was automatically marked as spam.
advertising / ad
Werbung can also appear in electronic messages and may be permitted or wanted. Spam, by contrast, refers to unwanted electronic messages sent out in large numbers, usually containing advertising. Werbung is appropriate for a subscribed message; for many unsolicited messages, Spam is the right term.
Mia hat nichts abonniert und erhält täglich Spam für neue Laufschuhe.
Mia did not subscribe to anything and receives spam for new running shoes every day.
Mia hat den Newsletter abonniert und erhält darin Werbung für neue Laufschuhe.
Mia subscribed to the newsletter and receives advertising for new running shoes in it.
