orphan
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orphan
A child whose parents or one parent has died. The term can also refer to young animals that have lost their mother.
Nach dem Tod ihrer Eltern wuchs sie als Waise bei ihren Großeltern auf.
After her parents died, she grew up as an orphan with her grandparents.
This word has two very different meanings. The context makes clear what is meant: if it is about people or families, it refers to a child without parents. If it is about text, design, or printing, it refers to a single line at the end of a page.
Das Schicksal der Waisen im Krieg ist ein trauriges Thema.
The fate of the orphans in the war is a sad topic.
The word 'Waise' (orphan) is part of a word family. A 'Waisenkind' (orphaned child) is another term for a child without parents, and a 'Waisenhaus' (orphanage) is an institution where orphaned children used to be housed.
Viele berühmte Romanfiguren sind Waisenkinder.
Many famous novel characters are orphans.
Common phrases are 'zur Waise werden' (to become an orphan / to lose one's parents) and 'als Waise aufwachsen' (to grow up as an orphan).
Durch den Unfall wurden die Kinder zu Waisen.
The accident left the children orphaned.
In the typographic meaning, 'Waise' (orphan) is a technical term. It is only used when talking about professional text or book layout.
Bitte achte darauf, dass am Ende der Spalte keine Waise steht.
Please make sure there is no orphan at the end of the column.
widow
'Witwe' and 'Waise' both have to do with a death in the family, but they refer to different people. A 'Witwe' is a woman whose husband has died. A 'Waise' is a child whose parents or one parent has died. Learners may confuse the words because both describe a person after a loss and sound similar. The relationship is important: 'Witwe' is about marriage, while 'Waise' is about parents and a child.
Die Waise wächst seit zwei Jahren bei ihrer Tante auf.
The orphan has been growing up with her aunt for two years.
Nach dem Tod ihres Mannes lebt die Witwe allein in der alten Wohnung.
After her husband's death, the widow lives alone in the old apartment.