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die Tanne
fir
A conifer with flat, soft needles and upright cones. Firs are often used as Christmas trees.
example
Im Wald standen hohe, alte Tannen.
Tall, old firs stood in the forest.
die Tanne
fir
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word family
The word 'Tanne' (fir) is the basis for many compound words that have to do with this tree. These include, for example, 'der Tannenbaum' (fir tree/Christmas tree), 'der Tannenzapfen' (fir cone), or 'der Tannenwald' (fir forest).
EXAMPLE
Im Herbst sammeln die Kinder Tannenzapfen im Wald.
In autumn, the children collect fir cones in the forest.
Cultural context
In Germany, the fir is closely associated with Christmas. The tradition of decorating a fir and putting it in the house as a Christmas tree is widespread.
EXAMPLE
Jedes Jahr im Dezember schmücken wir gemeinsam eine Tanne.
Every year in December, we decorate a fir together.
Typical collocations
Common adjectives that describe a fir are 'hoch' (tall), 'alt' (old), 'grün' (green), or 'dicht' (dense). These describe the typical appearance of the tree.
EXAMPLE
Hinter dem Haus steht eine sehr hohe Tanne.
There is a very tall fir behind the house.
Compare with
Tanne vs Kiefer
pine
'die Kiefer' and 'die Tanne' are both conifers, but they look different. A pine usually has long needles in pairs or clusters and often has a rather open growth habit. A fir has flat, softer needles, and its cones stand upright. Learners may confuse the words because both trees have needles and cones. In everyday speech, many conifers are quickly called 'Tanne', but as an exact tree species, 'Kiefer' is something different.
Tanne
Vor Weihnachten kauft die Familie eine Tanne für das Wohnzimmer.
Before Christmas, the family buys a fir for the living room.
Kiefer
Im Sommer spendet die Kiefer vor dem Haus viel Schatten.
In summer, the pine in front of the house provides a lot of shade.
In real life
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