die Zeitspanne
period / span
A specific, limited section of time; a period of time.
EXAMPLE
Die gesamte Bauphase erstreckte sich über eine Zeitspanne von zwei Jahren.
The entire construction phase extended over a period of two years.
die Zeitspanne
period / span of time
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word composition
The word consists of 'Zeit' (time) and 'Spanne' (span). A 'Spanne' is a distance or range, so 'Zeitspanne' (span of time) literally describes a clearly defined range of time.
EXAMPLE
Diese historische Zeitspanne ist besonders interessant.
This historical period is especially interesting.
Sentence structure and usage
To indicate the length of the period, the preposition 'von' (of/from) is often used. The prepositions 'innerhalb' (within) and 'über' (over) are also very common in this context.
EXAMPLE
Innerhalb einer kurzen Zeitspanne hat sich die Stadt stark verändert.
Within a short span of time, the city changed significantly.
Register and style
This word is often used in a more formal, official, or scientific context. It emphasizes that the period of time is specific, defined, and measurable.
EXAMPLE
Für die Datenerhebung wurde eine Zeitspanne von genau 30 Tagen festgelegt.
A period of exactly 30 days was set for the data collection.
Compare with
Zeitspanne vs Zeitraum
period / time span
Zeitraum and Zeitspanne both refer to a limited duration. Zeitraum usually names the period neutrally, often by giving its beginning and end. Zeitspanne draws more attention to how long the period is. In many situations, however, both words are possible.
Zeitspanne
Die Zeitspanne der Untersuchung beträgt genau zwei Monate.
The study lasted exactly two months.
Zeitraum
Der Zeitraum der Untersuchung reicht vom 1. März bis zum 30. April.
The study period runs from March 1 to April 30.
In real life
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