familiarity / intimacy
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intimacy
A state of close personal connection and mutual understanding between people, based on shared time and experience.
Zwischen den langjährigen Freunden herrschte eine selbstverständliche Vertrautheit.
There was a natural intimacy between the longtime friends.
familiarity
Exact knowledge of a thing, place, or topic; the fact of being very well acquainted with or practiced in something.
Seine Vertrautheit mit den örtlichen Gegebenheiten war für die Planung der Wanderung ein großer Vorteil.
His familiarity with the local conditions was a great advantage for planning the hike.
'Vertrautheit' (familiarity/intimacy) is the noun form of the adjective 'vertraut' (familiar). The ending '-heit' is often used to turn an adjective into an abstract noun that describes a state or quality.
Er ist mit diesem Thema sehr vertraut.
He is very familiar with this topic.
The preposition helps you recognize the meaning. 'Vertrautheit zwischen' (familiarity/intimacy between) people describes a close personal relationship. 'Vertrautheit mit' (familiarity with) something describes knowing a topic or place well.
Die Vertrautheit zwischen den Geschwistern war für jeden sichtbar.
The intimacy between the siblings was visible to everyone.
When it is about personal relationships, people often say 'eine Atmosphäre der Vertrautheit schaffen' (to create an atmosphere of intimacy/familiarity), 'ein Gefühl von Vertrautheit spüren' (to feel a sense of familiarity), or 'eine tiefe Vertrautheit' (a deep intimacy).
In der kleinen Gruppe entstand schnell eine angenehme Vertrautheit.
A pleasant intimacy quickly developed in the small group.
In the meaning of 'etwas gut kennen' (to know something well), 'Vertrautheit' (familiarity) is almost always used with the preposition 'mit' and the dative. This structure describes what the knowledge refers to.
Für diesen Job ist Vertrautheit mit den gängigen Computerprogrammen erforderlich.
For this job, familiarity with common computer programs is required.
closeness / proximity
Nähe refers to the emotional connection between people and can develop quite early. Vertrautheit is based more strongly on time spent together, shared experience, and mutual understanding. Nähe is suitable for a close feeling; Vertrautheit is suitable for a relaxed relationship that has grown over a longer period of time.
Nach vielen gemeinsamen Arbeitsjahren herrschte zwischen den beiden Kollegen eine große Vertrautheit.
After many years of working together, the two colleagues had developed a strong sense of familiarity.
Schon nach ihrem ersten langen Gespräch spürten die beiden Kollegen eine große Nähe.
After their first long conversation, the two colleagues already felt very close.
