01
die Zeile
line
A horizontal row of words or characters in a written or printed text.
example
In der dritten Zeile des Gedichts befindet sich ein Rechtschreibfehler.
There is a spelling mistake in the third line of the poem.
die Zeile
line
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
The context makes the meaning clear. If the word refers to a text, a book, or a poem, it means a line of text. If it refers to physical objects such as trees, houses, or people, it means a row.
EXAMPLE
Bitte lies die nächste Zeile vor.
Please read the next line aloud.
Sentence structure and use
To refer to a specific line in a text, you use the preposition 'in' together with an ordinal number or the plain number. For example: 'in der fünften Zeile' (in the fifth line) or 'in Zeile fünf' (in line five).
EXAMPLE
Der Fehler steht in der ersten Zeile des Codes.
The error is in the first line of the code.
Fixed expression
The phrase 'zwischen den Zeilen lesen' (to read between the lines) is a fixed idiom. It means to understand a hidden message in a statement or text that is not said directly.
EXAMPLE
Er hat nicht direkt kritisiert, aber man konnte seine Unzufriedenheit zwischen den Zeilen lesen.
He did not criticize directly, but you could read his dissatisfaction between the lines.
Compare with
Zeile vs Reihe
row / series
'die Reihe' and 'die Zeile' can both refer to something horizontal, that is, things arranged next to one another. 'Zeile' is used especially with texts: a 'Zeile' consists of words or characters on a page or on a screen. 'Reihe' is more general and fits people, chairs, plants, or other things. The words can be confused because a 'Zeile' is also a kind of 'Reihe'. For written text, 'Zeile' is more precise; for real objects, 'Reihe' is usually more natural.
Zeile
Zu Hause liest sie die letzte Zeile noch einmal, weil sie den Satz nicht versteht.
At home, she reads the last line again because she does not understand the sentence.
Reihe
Tom stellt im Garten eine Reihe Stühle für die Familie auf.
Tom sets up a row of chairs in the garden for the family.
In real life
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