01
die Wolke
cloud
A visible accumulation of very small water droplets or ice crystals in the atmosphere.
example
Eine dunkle Wolke zog am Himmel auf und es begann zu regnen.
A dark cloud appeared in the sky, and it began to rain.
die Wolke
cloud
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Fixed expression
The idiom 'auf Wolke sieben schweben' (to be floating on cloud nine) means to be very happy or newly in love. The number seven always remains unchanged in German.
EXAMPLE
Seit sie den neuen Job hat, schwebt sie auf Wolke sieben.
Since she got the new job, she has been on cloud nine.
Typical collocations
In connection with the weather, 'Wolke' (cloud) is often combined with certain verbs. Typical formulations are 'Wolken ziehen auf' (clouds are gathering), 'der Himmel ist voller Wolken' (the sky is full of clouds), or 'die Sonne kommt hinter den Wolken hervor' (the sun comes out from behind the clouds).
EXAMPLE
Am Horizont ziehen bereits dunkle Gewitterwolken auf.
Dark storm clouds are already gathering on the horizon.
Word composition
The word 'Wolke' (cloud) is often used as the base word in compounds to describe a dense mass. Examples are 'Rauchwolke' (cloud of smoke), 'Staubwolke' (cloud of dust), or 'Duftwolke' (cloud of fragrance).
EXAMPLE
Beim Backen entstand eine feine Mehlwolke in der Küche.
While baking, a fine cloud of flour formed in the kitchen.
Context and prepositions
In the IT context, German distinguishes between direction and location. You upload data 'in die Wolke' (to the cloud; accusative), but the data is then stored 'in der Wolke' (in the cloud; dative).
EXAMPLE
Kannst du die Dokumente für mich in die Wolke hochladen?
Can you upload the documents to the cloud for me?
Use with 'von'
To describe a dense swarm, usually of insects, you use the structure 'eine Wolke von' (a cloud of) followed by a noun in the plural.
EXAMPLE
Wir mussten schnell ins Haus laufen, um der Wolke von Mücken zu entkommen.
We had to run quickly into the house to escape the cloud of mosquitoes.
Compare with
Wolke vs Nebel
fog
'Wolke' and 'Nebel' both have to do with small water droplets in the air. A 'Wolke' is normally seen high up in the sky. It can be white, gray, or dark and is part of the weather scene. 'Nebel' is closer to the ground and makes visibility poor, for example on a road or in a forest. Learners may confuse the words because both look like a light or gray mass in the air. In practical terms: up in the sky it is a cloud; around you and with poor visibility, it is fog.
Wolke
Über dem See steht eine dunkle Wolke, deshalb nehmen wir lieber eine Jacke mit.
There is a dark cloud over the lake, so we’d rather take a jacket with us.
Nebel
Am Morgen war der Nebel so dicht, dass man die Straße kaum sehen konnte.
In the morning, the fog was so thick that you could hardly see the road.
In real life
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