territorial
Relating to a particular area, region, or sovereign territory.
EXAMPLE
Zwischen den beiden Ländern gibt es territoriale Streitigkeiten.
There are territorial disputes between the two countries.
territorial
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
territorial
In biology, describing the behavior of animals that defend their territory against members of the same species.
EXAMPLE
Rotkehlchen sind für ihr ausgeprägt territoriales Verhalten bekannt.
Robins are known for their strongly territorial behavior.
Usage tips
Word family
The adjective 'territorial' (territorial) is derived from the noun 'das Territorium' (territory), which means 'Gebiet' (area) or 'Hoheitsgebiet' (sovereign territory). The ending '-al' is a typical way to form an adjective from a noun.
EXAMPLE
Jeder Staat hat die Kontrolle über sein eigenes Territorium.
Every state has control over its own territory.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context. If the topic is politics, countries, or borders, the geographical meaning is intended. If the topic is animals and their behavior, the biological meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung erhebt territoriale Ansprüche auf die Inselgruppe.
The government is making territorial claims to the group of islands.
Typical collocations
In political and legal contexts, 'territorial' (territorial) is often used in fixed expressions, for example 'territoriale Integrität' (territorial integrity, the inviolability of a state's territory) or 'territoriale Gewässer' (territorial waters, a state's coastal waters).
EXAMPLE
Die territoriale Integrität des Landes ist durch den Konflikt bedroht.
The territorial integrity of the country is threatened by the conflict.
Compare with
territorial vs regional
regional
Regional and territorial can both express a connection to a particular area. Regional puts the region as a geographical unit at the center. Territorial places more emphasis on a clearly defined area or sovereign territory; territorial is therefore more precise when referring to the geographical scope of something.
territorial
Die territoriale Regelung gilt nur innerhalb dieses abgegrenzten Gebiets.
The territorial regulation applies only within this clearly defined area.
regional
Die regionale Regelung gilt in mehreren Gemeinden dieser Gegend.
The regional regulation applies in several municipalities in this area.
In real life
Loading video examples...