goalkeeper
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goalkeeper
A player in a team sport such as soccer or handball whose special task is to defend the goal and prevent the ball or puck from getting in.
Der Torwart hielt den Elfmeter mit einer spektakulären Parade.
The goalkeeper saved the penalty with a spectacular save.
The word 'Torwart' is made up of 'das Tor' (goal) and 'der Wart'. 'Wart' is an old form of 'Wärter' or 'Hüter' (guard/keeper). So a 'Torwart' is literally a 'goalkeeper'.
Die Hauptaufgabe des Torwarts ist es, das Tor zu bewachen.
The goalkeeper's main task is to guard the goal.
Especially in southern Germany and Austria, the term 'der Tormann' is also very common and means exactly the same thing.
Der Tormann der Gastmannschaft war heute unschlagbar.
The visiting team's goalkeeper was unbeatable today.
Typical verbs that describe a goalkeeper's actions are 'einen Ball halten' (to save/stop a ball), 'einen Schuss abwehren' (to block a shot), or 'einen Elfmeter parieren' (to save a penalty).
Im Finale konnte der Torwart zwei Elfmeter halten.
In the final, the goalkeeper was able to save two penalties.
defender / defense attorney
'der Verteidiger' and 'der Torwart' both belong to a team's defense in sports. The important difference is the position: a defender plays in front of the goal and tries to stop attacks. The goalkeeper stands directly in the goal and, for example in soccer, is allowed to hold the ball with their hands in the penalty area. Learners may confuse the words because both are meant to prevent goals. But if you mean the specific person in the goal, 'Torwart' is correct. For the players in front of the goal, you say 'Verteidiger'.
Nach dem Schuss sprang der Torwart zur Seite und hielt den Ball.
After the shot, the goalkeeper jumped to the side and saved the ball.
Der Verteidiger stoppte den schnellen Angriff kurz vor dem Strafraum.
The defender stopped the fast attack just before the penalty area.