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der Teil
part
A section or piece of a larger whole.
example
Der zweite Teil des Films war viel spannender als der erste.
The second part of the film was much more exciting than the first.
der Teil
part
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Teil' is the basis for many important words. These include the verb 'teilen' (to share/divide), the adverb 'teils' (partly), the nouns 'Vorteil' (advantage) and 'Nachteil' (disadvantage), as well as the opposite, 'das Gegenteil' (the opposite). If you recognize 'Teil', you can more easily figure out the meaning of these related words.
EXAMPLE
Wir können uns die Pizza teilen.
We can share the pizza.
Part of something
To express that something is a component of a larger whole, 'der Teil' is usually used with the preposition 'von' and the dative, or with the genitive.
EXAMPLE
Dieser Stadtteil ist der schönste Teil von Hamburg.
This district is the most beautiful part of Hamburg.
Fixed expression
The expression 'zum Teil' is a fixed phrase and means 'teilweise' (partly) or 'partiell' (partially). It is used as an adverb in the sentence to limit a statement.
EXAMPLE
Das Haus ist schon sehr alt und zum Teil renovierungsbedürftig.
The house is already very old and partly in need of renovation.
Making a contribution
The idiom 'seinen Teil beitragen' means to make a contribution to a shared goal. The possessive pronoun ('mein', 'dein', 'sein', etc.) is adapted to the person.
EXAMPLE
Wenn jeder seinen Teil beiträgt, sind wir schnell fertig.
If everyone does their part, we'll be finished quickly.
Register
In colloquial speech, 'der Teil' or 'das Teil' is often used as a synonym for 'Ding' (thing) or 'Sache' (thing/matter), usually with an admiring or surprised emphasis. This use is very informal.
EXAMPLE
Hast du sein neues Motorrad gesehen? Was für ein tolles Teil!
Did you see his new motorcycle? What a great thing!
Compare with
Teil vs Folge
consequence / episode
'der Teil' and 'die Folge' can both mean a section from a larger series, for example with films, series, or stories. 'der Teil' is more general and fits when something belongs to a larger whole, such as a part of a book or a film series. 'die Folge' is used especially for a single episode of a series, podcast, or audio drama. Learners may confuse the words because both can be numbered. A practical guide: With series, you usually say 'Folge'; with larger sections or individual pieces of a whole, you are more likely to use 'Teil'.
Teil
Der zweite Teil des Films kommt morgen im Fernsehen.
The second part of the film is on TV tomorrow.
Folge
Clara sieht die neue Folge ihrer Lieblingsserie nach dem Training.
Clara watches the new episode of her favorite series after training.
In real life
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