patrol car
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patrol car
An official police vehicle used for patrols and callouts. It is usually recognizable by its special paintwork and a blue emergency light on the roof.
Der Streifenwagen fuhr mit eingeschaltetem Blaulicht durch die enge Gasse.
The patrol car drove through the narrow alley with its blue light on.
The word is made up of 'Streife' (patrol) and 'Wagen' (car). A 'Streife' is a patrol, so 'Streifenwagen' (patrol car) is literally a 'patrol car.' The 'n' is a linking n that connects the two words.
Die Polizei fährt regelmäßig Streife in diesem Viertel.
The police regularly patrol this neighborhood.
Common verbs and phrases used with 'Streifenwagen' (patrol car) are 'einen Streifenwagen rufen' (to call a patrol car), 'im Streifenwagen sitzen' (to sit in the patrol car), or 'mit dem Streifenwagen fahren' (to drive/go in the patrol car). People also often describe how it arrives: 'Ein Streifenwagen hielt an der Ecke' (A patrol car stopped at the corner).
Die Nachbarn haben wegen des Lärms einen Streifenwagen gerufen.
The neighbors called a patrol car because of the noise.
In Germany, patrol cars today are usually silver or white with blue stripes and the word 'Polizei' (police) on them. In the past, the typical color was green and white. The blue emergency light on the roof is called 'Blaulicht' (blue light).
Man erkennt die neuen Streifenwagen sofort an ihrer blau-silbernen Farbe.
You can recognize the new patrol cars immediately by their blue-and-silver color.
police car
Both words refer to a police car used for patrols or operations. Streifenwagen is the more specific term for a usually marked vehicle used for patrol and operational duties. Polizeiauto is more general and also works when the vehicle's exact role is not important.
Vor dem Bahnhof hielt ein gekennzeichneter Streifenwagen, der gerade auf Streifenfahrt war.
A marked patrol car stopped in front of the train station while it was on patrol.
Vor dem Bahnhof hielt ein Polizeiauto, aber die genaue Aufgabe des Fahrzeugs war nicht bekannt.
A police car stopped in front of the train station, but the vehicle's exact role was unknown.
