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.
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.
sex
'der Sex' and 'der Verkehr' can both mean sexual intercourse. 'Sex' is the direct and normal word in everyday language when talking about sexual acts. 'Verkehr' in this meaning is more euphemistic and formal. You hear it, for example, in medical or official contexts, often as 'Geschlechtsverkehr' (sexual intercourse). Important: 'Verkehr' also has many other meanings, for example cars on the road. Without a clear context, people usually do not think of sex first when they hear 'Verkehr'.
Die Ärztin fragt, ob es in den letzten Wochen ungeschützten Verkehr gab.
The doctor asks whether there has been any unprotected intercourse in the last few weeks.
In der Beziehung sprechen beide offen über Sex und ihre Wünsche.
In the relationship, both of them talk openly about sex and their desires.