string player / strings / painter
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string player
A musician who plays a string instrument such as the violin, viola, cello, or double bass.
Das Orchester sucht für die kommende Saison noch erfahrene Streicher.
The orchestra is still looking for experienced string players for the coming season.
strings
The group of string instruments in an orchestra, considered as a single unit.
In diesem Satz der Symphonie setzen die Streicher erst nach den Bläsern ein.
In this movement of the symphony, the strings come in only after the winds.
painter
A person whose job is to paint walls or objects; a house painter. This meaning is less common today or used regionally.
Wir haben einen Streicher beauftragt, die Fassade des Hauses neu zu streichen.
We hired a painter to repaint the facade of the house.
'Streicher' derives from the verb 'streichen' (to stroke; to paint). The ending '-er' refers to a person who performs the action. This explains the different meanings: someone who strokes the bow across the strings (musician), or someone who moves a brush across a wall (painter).
Er ist ein begabter Streicher und spielt Cello im Philharmonieorchester.
He is a talented string player and plays cello in the philharmonic orchestra.
You can clearly tell which meaning is intended from the context. Words like 'Orchester' (orchestra), 'Geige' (violin), or 'Musik' (music) point to the musician. Words like 'Farbe' (paint), 'Wand' (wall), or 'renovieren' (to renovate) point to the painter.
Für das Konzert fehlen uns noch zwei Streicher.
We still need two string players for the concert.
In a musical context, the plural 'die Streicher' (the strings) is often used as a collective term for the entire string section of an orchestra (violins, violas, cellos, double basses).
In Beethovens fünfter Sinfonie haben die Streicher eine sehr dominante Rolle.
In Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, the strings have a very dominant role.
The meaning 'Anstreicher' (house painter) or 'Maler' (painter) is rather rare today and can sound outdated or regional. In most parts of Germany, other terms are preferred.
Mein Urgroßvater war von Beruf Streicher und hat Fassaden bemalt.
My great-grandfather was a painter by profession and painted facades.
painter
For someone who paints walls or facades, both Maler and Streicher are possible in principle. Maler is the usual standard word, while Streicher is less common today or used regionally in this sense. In everyday situations, Maler is therefore usually the better choice.
In dieser Gegend nennt man den Handwerker, der die Wände streicht, manchmal einen Streicher.
In this area, the tradesperson who paints walls is sometimes called a “Streicher.”
Für die Renovierung unserer Wohnung haben wir einen Maler beauftragt.
We hired a painter to renovate our apartment.
