tandem
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tandem
A bicycle designed for two people who sit one behind the other and pedal together.
Für die lange Radtour haben wir uns ein Tandem geliehen, um uns beim Treten abzuwechseln.
For the long bike tour, we rented a tandem so we could take turns pedaling.
The most important figurative meaning is used in the fixed expression 'im Tandem' (in tandem). It means that two people or partners work very closely together.
Die beiden Direktoren leiteten das Unternehmen im Tandem.
The two directors ran the company in tandem.
When referring to the bicycle, the most common verbs are 'Tandem fahren' (to ride a tandem), 'sich ein Tandem leihen' (to borrow/rent a tandem), or 'ein Tandem mieten' (to rent a tandem).
Im Urlaub haben wir uns für einen Tag ein Tandem geliehen.
On vacation, we rented a tandem for a day.
In technical contexts, 'Tandem-' is often used as the first part of compound nouns. It always describes an arrangement of two identical parts one behind the other, e.g. 'Tandem-Achse' (tandem axle) or 'Tandem-Prinzip' (tandem principle).
Die Tandem-Walze verdichtet den Asphalt in zwei Stufen.
The tandem roller compacts the asphalt in two stages.
pair / couple
'das Paar' and 'das Tandem' can both have to do with two people. 'das Paar' only says that two people are doing something together or belong together. 'das Tandem' is more specific: it can be a bicycle for two people, or close cooperation between two people with a shared goal. The words can be confused when two people work together. 'Paar' emphasizes the number two, while 'Tandem' emphasizes acting together and often also a fixed collaboration.
Beim Sprachkurs arbeitet Ali im Tandem mit Sofia, damit beide mehr sprechen.
In the language course, Ali works in tandem with Sofia so that both of them speak more.
Für die Übung bildet jeder Schüler mit einer Partnerin ein Paar.
For the exercise, each student forms a pair with a partner.