sprinter / van
Loading your saved state.
sprinter
A track-and-field athlete who specializes in short-distance races and can run very fast.
Der jamaikanische Sprinter gewann die Goldmedaille über 100 Meter.
The Jamaican sprinter won the gold medal in the 100 meters.
The noun 'der Sprinter' (sprinter) is derived from the verb 'sprinten' (to sprint). So it describes a person or a vehicle made for short, fast distances.
Der Athlet sprintete ins Ziel.
The athlete sprinted to the finish line.
To distinguish the meaning, pay attention to the context. Words like 'Leichtathletik' (track and field), 'Stadion' (stadium), or 'Rennen' (race) point to the athlete. Words like 'Umzug' (move), 'transportieren' (to transport), or 'mieten' (to rent) point to the van.
Der Sprinter trainiert täglich für die Olympischen Spiele.
The sprinter trains every day for the Olympic Games.
The term 'Sprinter' for a small transporter is a deonym. Originally, it was the model name of a Mercedes-Benz vehicle; today, the term is used colloquially for many delivery vans of this size.
Kannst du für den Umzug einen Sprinter mieten?
Can you rent a van for the move?
runner / runner rug / bishop
'der Läufer' and 'der Sprinter' both refer to people who run, especially in sports. 'Läufer' is more general: it can be someone who jogs, trains, or takes part in long and short races. 'Sprinter' is more specific: he runs short distances very fast, for example 100 meters. Learners may confuse the words because every 'Sprinter' is also a 'Läufer'. But not every 'Läufer' is a 'Sprinter'. If the type of running is not important, 'Läufer' fits. If it is about short distances and high speed, 'Sprinter' is more precise.
Der Sprinter startet schnell, weil das Rennen nur 100 Meter lang ist.
The sprinter starts quickly because the race is only 100 meters long.
Vor dem Stadtlauf wärmt sich der Läufer im Park auf.
Before the city run, the runner warms up in the park.