der Transporter
van
A medium-sized motor vehicle used mainly for transporting goods or a small group of people; a small transport vehicle or delivery van.
EXAMPLE
Für den Umzug haben wir einen Transporter gemietet.
We rented a van for the move.
der Transporter
van / transporter
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Meanings
der Transporter
transporter
In science fiction, a device that dematerializes matter or people, transfers them to another place, and rematerializes them there (teleportation).
EXAMPLE
Die Crew der Enterprise betrat die Transporterplattform, um auf den Planeten gebeamt zu werden.
The crew of the Enterprise stepped onto the transporter platform to be beamed down to the planet.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is derived from the verb 'transportieren' (to transport). The ending '-er' here denotes a thing that performs an action. A 'Transporter' is therefore literally something that transports.
EXAMPLE
Die Möbelpacker haben den Transporter schnell beladen.
The movers quickly loaded the van.
Typical verbs
In connection with the vehicle, 'Transporter' is often used with the verbs 'mieten' (to rent), 'fahren' (to drive), 'beladen' (to load), or 'entladen' (to unload).
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen für den Umzug am Wochenende einen Transporter mieten.
We need to rent a van for the move this weekend.
Context clue
You can recognize the science-fiction meaning from words in that field, such as 'Raumschiff' (spaceship), 'beamen' (to beam), 'Planet' (planet), or 'Crew' (crew). Without this context, it almost always means the vehicle.
EXAMPLE
Der Captain gab den Befehl, den Transporter zu benutzen.
The captain gave the order to use the transporter.
Compare with
Transporter vs Sprinter
sprinter / van
Transporter is the general term for a medium-sized vehicle used to transport goods or people. Sprinter comes from a Mercedes-Benz model, but it is also often used generally for a delivery van of this kind. When the vehicle's make is unknown, Transporter is more unambiguous.
Transporter
Für den Umzug mieten wir einen geräumigen Transporter unbekannter Marke.
We are renting a spacious van of an unknown make for the move.
Sprinter
Für den Umzug mieten wir einen geräumigen Sprinter von Mercedes-Benz.
We are renting a spacious Mercedes-Benz Sprinter for the move.
In real life
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