der Winkel
corner
A corner or a remote area in a room or place, often one that is hard to see into.
EXAMPLE
Die alte Truhe stand im hintersten Winkel des Dachbodens.
The old chest stood in the farthest corner of the attic.
der Winkel
corner / angle
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
der Winkel
angle
In geometry, the space between two lines or surfaces that intersect, measured in degrees.
EXAMPLE
Ein rechter Winkel misst exakt 90 Grad.
A right angle measures exactly 90 degrees.
im toten Winkel
in the blind spot
The area next to or behind a vehicle that the driver cannot see through the mirrors.
EXAMPLE
Der Radfahrer war im toten Winkel des LKW und wurde beim Abbiegen übersehen.
The cyclist was in the truck's blind spot and was not seen when it turned.
Usage tips
Recognizing the meaning
You can tell from context whether a corner (meaning 1) or a geometric angle (meaning 2) is meant. Words like 'Raum' (room), 'Zimmer' (room), or 'dunkel' (dark) point to a corner, while 'Grad' (degrees), 'messen' (to measure), or 'spitz' (acute) refer to geometry.
EXAMPLE
Die Katze versteckte sich in einem dunklen Winkel hinter dem Sofa.
The cat hid in a dark corner behind the sofa.
Fixed expression
The combination 'Ecken und Winkel' (nooks and crannies) is a fixed expression. It means that someone examines a place very thoroughly or refers to all parts of a place.
EXAMPLE
Er kennt alle Ecken und Winkel dieser Stadt.
He knows every nook and cranny of this city.
Typical adjectives
In a geometric context, 'Winkel' (angle) is often combined with certain adjectives to describe its size. The most important ones are 'rechter Winkel' (right angle, 90°), 'spitzer Winkel' (acute angle, <90°), and 'stumpfer Winkel' (obtuse angle, >90°).
EXAMPLE
Ein Quadrat hat vier rechte Winkel.
A square has four right angles.
Fixed expression
The expression 'im toten Winkel' (in the blind spot) is a fixed term that is usually used in road traffic. It describes the area that a driver cannot see in the mirror.
EXAMPLE
Achte beim Radfahren immer auf den toten Winkel von Lastwagen.
When cycling, always watch out for trucks' blind spots.
Compare with
Winkel vs Ecke
corner
Both words can refer to an area in a room or at a particular place. „Die Ecke“ generally means the area where sides or surfaces meet, while „der Winkel“ can additionally emphasize a more hidden or hard-to-see area. „Ecke“ fits an ordinary corner of a room; „Winkel“ can also refer to a secluded area.
Winkel
Wir stellten den Schrank in einen versteckten Winkel des Zimmers.
We put the cabinet in a hidden corner of the room.
Ecke
Wir stellten den Schrank in die Ecke des Zimmers.
We put the cabinet in the corner of the room.
In real life
Loading video examples...