telephone book
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telephone book
A directory that lists the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of people and businesses in a specific region. It exists both in printed form and as an online database.
Früher hat man die Nummer im Telefonbuch nachgeschlagen, heute sucht man meistens online.
In the past, people looked up the number in the telephone book; today, they usually search online.
The word is a simple compound of 'das Telefon' (the telephone) and 'das Buch' (the book). So it is literally a book with telephone numbers.
Ein Telefonbuch war früher in jedem Haushalt zu finden.
A telephone book used to be found in every household.
The most common action connected with the telephone book is 'nachschlagen' (to look up). The preposition 'in' is used with the dative: 'im Telefonbuch nachschlagen' (to look something up in the telephone book).
Ich habe seine Adresse im Telefonbuch nachgeschlagen.
I looked up his address in the telephone book.
Although the printed telephone book is rare today, the word is still used, often also for online directories. It can also evoke nostalgia for the time before the internet.
Die Kontaktdaten des Unternehmens finden Sie im digitalen Telefonbuch auf der Webseite.
You can find the company's contact details in the digital telephone book on the website.
address book
Both words refer to a collection of names and contact details. A „Telefonbuch“ is usually a public regional directory of individuals and businesses, whereas an „Adressbuch“ is often one person’s personal collection or a private file. „Telefonbuch“ is therefore appropriate for a public search, while „Adressbuch“ is used for one’s own contacts.
Für die Nummer des örtlichen Handwerkers schaute ich ins Telefonbuch.
I looked in the telephone book for the number of the local tradesperson.
Für die Nummer meines früheren Handwerkers schaute ich in mein Adressbuch.
I looked in my address book for the number of the tradesperson who used to work for me.
