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der Teufel
devil
In many religions and myths, the embodiment of evil and the adversary of God.
example
In vielen Geschichten versucht der Teufel, die Menschen zu verführen.
In many stories, the devil tries to tempt people.
der Teufel
devil
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed expression
A very common expression is 'Der Teufel steckt im Detail' (the devil is in the details). It means that the difficulties of something often lie in the small, inconspicuous aspects.
EXAMPLE
Der Plan sieht gut aus, aber der Teufel steckt im Detail.
The plan looks good, but the devil is in the details.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'den Teufel an die Wand malen' (to paint the devil on the wall) is a fixed unit. It is used to criticize someone who is unnecessarily pessimistic.
EXAMPLE
Sei nicht so negativ und male nicht immer gleich den Teufel an die Wand!
Don't be so negative and don't always paint the devil on the wall right away!
Fixed expression
The expression 'in Teufels Küche kommen' (to get into devil's kitchen) means to get into serious trouble. The structure is fixed and is often combined with 'Wenn..., dann...' (if..., then...) sentences.
EXAMPLE
Wenn dein Chef das herausfindet, kommst du in Teufels Küche.
If your boss finds out, you'll get into devil's kitchen.
Colloquial use
When a person is referred to as a 'Teufel' (devil), it is colloquial. It often describes a clever, cheeky, or sometimes malicious person, and is often also used affectionately and ironically for a child.
EXAMPLE
Mein kleiner Neffe ist ein echter Teufel, er stellt nur Unsinn an.
My little nephew is a real devil; he's always getting up to nonsense.
As an exclamation
The expression 'Zum Teufel!' (To the devil!/Damn it!) is used as an emotional exclamation of anger or rejection. It can stand alone or introduce a command.
EXAMPLE
Zum Teufel, wo habe ich nur meine Schlüssel hingelegt?
Damn it, where did I put my keys?
Compare with
Teufel vs Gott
god
'Gott' and 'der Teufel' are opposites in many religious ideas. 'Gott' stands for the supreme divine being, often connected with creation, power, and goodness. 'der Teufel', on the other hand, stands for evil and is understood as God's adversary. The contrast is mainly important in religious or mythological contexts. In fixed exclamations and idioms, both words can also be used differently, but this relationship is about the religious contrast.
Teufel
Der Teufel erscheint in vielen Erzählungen als Symbol für das Böse.
The devil appears in many stories as a symbol of evil.
Gott
In der Geschichte bittet der König Gott um Schutz für sein Volk.
In the story, the king asks God to protect his people.
In real life
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