01
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 Zeit
time
'die Zeit' and 'die Zeitspanne' can both mean a duration or a limited section of time. 'Zeit' is the more general word and fits in many situations. 'Zeitspanne' places more emphasis on the beginning and end of a section, or on the length between two points. Learners may confuse the words because both talk about duration. If the point is simply that something takes time, 'Zeit' is natural. If you mean the exact length of a section, 'Zeitspanne' is more precise.
Zeitspanne
Die Zeitspanne zwischen Anmeldung und Antwort betrug nur zwei Tage.
The span of time between registration and the response was only two days.
Zeit
In der Pause nutzt das Kind die Zeit zur Vorbereitung.
During the break, the child uses the time to prepare.
In real life
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