traffic / contact
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traffic
The movement of vehicles, people, or goods on roads, rails, by water, or in the air.
Wegen eines Unfalls gab es heute Morgen viel Verkehr auf der Autobahn.
Because of an accident, there was a lot of traffic on the highway this morning.
contact
Social, business, or private interaction and contact between people.
Er pflegt einen freundschaftlichen Verkehr mit seinen Nachbarn.
He maintains friendly contact with his neighbors.
exchange
The exchange of goods, services, or data; trade or communication.
Der internationale Zahlungsverkehr wurde durch das neue System vereinfacht.
International payment transactions were simplified by the new system.
intercourse
A formal or euphemistic term for sexual intercourse.
In der Sexualaufklärung wird auch über die Risiken beim ungeschützten Verkehr gesprochen.
Sex education also discusses the risks of unprotected intercourse.
The noun 'der Verkehr' (traffic/contact) is derived from the verb 'verkehren'. This verb means 'to move/run' or 'to associate with someone'. This double meaning explains why 'Verkehr' can refer both to vehicles and to social contacts.
Früher verkehrten hier regelmäßig Dampfschiffe.
Steamships used to run here regularly.
While 'Verkehr' is neutral for road traffic, other meanings are stylistically marked. The meaning 'social contact' is formal and rare. The meaning 'Geschlechtsverkehr' (sexual intercourse) is also formal or used as a euphemism.
Der diplomatische Verkehr zwischen den beiden Ländern wurde wieder aufgenommen.
Diplomatic relations between the two countries were resumed.
When 'Verkehr' describes the movement of vehicles, it is almost always used in the singular. In this meaning, it is an uncountable noun.
Am Freitagnachmittag ist immer besonders viel Verkehr.
There is always especially heavy traffic on Friday afternoons.
In the meaning 'exchange', 'Verkehr' is often the second part of compound nouns. Examples are 'Zahlungsverkehr' (payment transactions), 'Warenverkehr' (movement of goods/trade in goods), or 'Briefverkehr' (correspondence).
Der gesamte Zahlungsverkehr der Firma läuft über diese Bank.
All of the company's payment transactions go through this bank.
contact
Kontakt generally refers to an existing or newly established connection between people. In this context, Verkehr means more ongoing social, private, or business interaction. Kontakt is more appropriate for a single connection; Verkehr can be appropriate for regular interaction.
Nach der Messe blieb Nina mit dem neuen Kunden in regelmäßigem geschäftlichem Verkehr.
After the trade fair, Nina remained in regular business contact with the new customer.
Auf der Messe stellte Nina Kontakt zu einem neuen Kunden her.
At the trade fair, Nina established contact with a new customer.
