spade
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spade
A gardening tool with a flat, often rectangular metal blade and a long handle, used for digging and turning over soil.
Mit dem Spaten grub er ein Loch für den neuen Apfelbaum.
He dug a hole for the new apple tree with the spade.
As a tool, 'der Spaten' (the spade) is often combined with verbs related to digging. Typical phrases are 'mit dem Spaten ein Loch graben' (to dig a hole with a spade) or 'die Erde umgraben' (to turn over the soil).
Für die neuen Blumenbeete musste er den ganzen Garten mit dem Spaten umgraben.
For the new flower beds, he had to turn over the whole garden with the spade.
The expression 'der erste Spatenstich' (the first groundbreaking) refers to the symbolic start of a construction project. The word 'Stich' (stab/thrust) here refers to the spade being pushed into the ground.
Viele Politiker waren beim ersten Spatenstich für die neue Autobahn anwesend.
Many politicians were present at the groundbreaking for the new highway.
You can recognize the ceremonial meaning of 'Spatenstich' (groundbreaking) from signal words such as 'feierlich' (ceremonial), 'Bauprojekt' (construction project), 'Bürgermeister' (mayor), or 'symbolisch' (symbolic). It is not about gardening, but about the official start of construction.
Die Presse berichtete ausführlich über den Spatenstich für das neue Museum.
The press reported in detail on the groundbreaking for the new museum.
start of construction
'der Baubeginn' and 'der erste Spatenstich' both have to do with the start of a construction project. 'Baubeginn' means the actual point in time when construction work begins. 'Der erste Spatenstich', on the other hand, is usually a symbolic or ceremonial start, often with guests, photos, and a short speech. Learners may confuse the words because the groundbreaking can mark the start of construction. Even so, the daily work on the building site does not necessarily have to begin immediately afterward. For schedules and planning, 'Baubeginn' is more precise; for the official ceremony, 'der erste Spatenstich' fits.
Beim ersten Spatenstich standen der Bürgermeister und die Architektin vor der Kamera.
At the groundbreaking, the mayor and the architect stood in front of the camera.
Der Baubeginn für die neue Schule ist für März geplant.
The start of construction for the new school is planned for March.