Christmas tree / fir tree
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Christmas tree
A fir or spruce tree that is set up in the house at Christmas and decorated with lights, baubles, and other ornaments; a Christmas tree.
Die Kinder schmücken begeistert den Tannenbaum.
The children are enthusiastically decorating the Christmas tree.
fir tree
A conifer from the genus of firs.
Im Schwarzwald wachsen viele hohe Tannenbäume.
Many tall fir trees grow in the Black Forest.
'Tannenbaum' (fir tree/Christmas tree) is a compound noun made from 'die Tanne' (a conifer/fir) and 'der Baum' (tree). The 'n' between them is a linking n that connects the two words.
Ein Tannenbaum ist wörtlich ein Baum der Gattung Tanne.
A 'Tannenbaum' (fir tree) is literally a tree from the fir genus.
You can tell from the context whether a Christmas tree (meaning 1) or a tree in the forest (meaning 2) is meant. Words like 'schmücken' (to decorate), 'Geschenke' (presents), 'Lichter' (lights), or 'Weihnachten' (Christmas) point to the Christmas tree. Words like 'Wald' (forest), 'wachsen' (to grow), or 'Nadeln' (needles) point to the tree in nature.
Wir stellen den Tannenbaum im Wohnzimmer auf. (Weihnachtsbaum)
We put up the Christmas tree in the living room. (Christmas tree)
In connection with Christmas, the 'Tannenbaum' (Christmas tree) is often 'geschmückt' (decorated), 'aufgestellt' (put up), or 'beleuchtet' (lit). Presents are 'unter den Tannenbaum gelegt' (placed under the Christmas tree).
Am Heiligabend legen wir die Geschenke unter den Tannenbaum.
On Christmas Eve, we put the presents under the Christmas tree.
The German Christmas carol 'O Tannenbaum' is internationally known. It has strongly shaped the word's association with Christmas, even though the song was originally about the tree's faithfulness in winter.
Alle sangen gemeinsam „O Tannenbaum“.
Everyone sang 'O Tannenbaum' together.
Christmas tree
Der Weihnachtsbaum is always a conifer put up and decorated during the Christmas season. Der Tannenbaum can mean the same thing in a Christmas context, but it can also simply mean an undecorated conifer. Without a Christmas context, only Tannenbaum is unambiguously appropriate.
Im Sommer steht ein hoher Tannenbaum ungeschmückt am Waldrand.
In summer, a tall fir tree stands undecorated at the edge of the forest.
Am Heiligabend leuchtet der geschmückte Weihnachtsbaum im Wohnzimmer.
On Christmas Eve, the decorated Christmas tree shines in the living room.
