01
die Unruhe
restlessness
A state of inner nervousness, tension, or restlessness.
example
Vor der wichtigen Präsentation spürte sie eine wachsende Unruhe.
Before the important presentation, she felt a growing restlessness.
die Unruhe
unrest
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
The word is made up of the prefix 'Un-' and the noun 'Ruhe' (calm/rest). The prefix 'Un-' expresses the opposite, so 'Unruhe' (unrest/restlessness) is literally the absence of calm.
EXAMPLE
Die laute Musik störte die Ruhe im Haus.
The loud music disturbed the peace in the house.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the context: inner 'Unruhe' (restlessness/nervousness) is often felt or sensed. Political 'Unruhen' (unrest) are usually plural and break out. The 'Unruhe' (balance wheel) in a watch or clock is a technical term.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Examen spürte ich eine große innere Unruhe.
Before the exam, I felt great inner restlessness.
Typical collocations
For the state of nervousness, phrases such as 'innere Unruhe' (inner restlessness), 'Unruhe stiften' (to deliberately cause unrest), or 'jemanden in Unruhe versetzen' (to unsettle someone) are typical.
EXAMPLE
Die Nachricht von seiner Kündigung versetzte das ganze Team in Unruhe.
The news of his dismissal unsettled the whole team.
Typical collocations
In the context of turmoil, people often speak of 'politischen' or 'sozialen Unruhen' (political or social unrest). Typical verbs are 'ausbrechen' (to break out) or the phrase 'es kommt zu Unruhen' (unrest occurs / breaks out).
EXAMPLE
Wegen der hohen Preise kam es zu sozialen Unruhen im Land.
Because of the high prices, social unrest broke out in the country.
Register
This meaning of 'Unruhe' (balance wheel) as a watch or clock component belongs to watchmakers' technical language and is very rare in general usage.
EXAMPLE
Nur ein Spezialist kann die Unruhe einer so alten Uhr reparieren.
Only a specialist can repair the balance wheel of such an old clock.
Compare with
Unruhe vs Ruhe
quiet / calm
'die Ruhe' and 'die Unruhe' are opposites here. 'Ruhe' means inner calm and relaxation, especially when you are not nervous or stressed. 'Unruhe' means inner nervousness, tension, or the feeling that you cannot stay calm. They can be confused because both talk about a person's inner state. Pay attention to the prefix 'un-': it turns Ruhe into its opposite.
Unruhe
Im Krankenhaus spürt sie eine starke Unruhe, weil sie auf die Nachricht wartet.
In the hospital, she feels a strong restlessness because she is waiting for the news.
Ruhe
Vor der Prüfung versucht Max, seine Ruhe zu bewahren.
Before the exam, Max tries to keep calm.
In real life
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