headquarters / control center / switchboard
die Zentrale, die Zentralen
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headquarters
The main office of a company, organization, or institution, from which its other branches or departments are managed.
Die Zentrale des Unternehmens befindet sich in München.
The company's headquarters are located in Munich.
control center
A place or facility where information, reports, or instructions are received and from which operations are coordinated.
Alle Einsatzkräfte melden sich nach ihrer Ankunft bei der Zentrale.
All emergency responders report to the control center when they arrive.
switchboard
A technical communications center through which telephone calls or other connections are established and routed.
Die Zentrale verbindet Sie mit dem gewünschten Gesprächspartner.
The switchboard will connect you to the person you wish to speak to.
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Zentralen |
| genitive | der Zentrale |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Zentrale | die Zentralen |
| accusative | die Zentrale | die Zentralen |
| dative | der Zentrale | den Zentralen |
| genitive | der Zentrale | der Zentralen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
With „die Zentrale“ (the headquarters / control center / switchboard), the context indicates which meaning is intended: company and organizational structures point to headquarters, incident reports to a coordination center, and telephone calls to a technical switchboard.
Die Zentrale in Berlin entscheidet über die Eröffnung neuer Filialen.
The headquarters in Berlin decides whether to open new branches.
Die Zentrale schickte sofort einen Rettungswagen zum Unfallort.
The control center immediately sent an ambulance to the scene of the accident.
Die Zentrale stellte die Verbindung zur gewünschten Abteilung her.
The switchboard connected the call to the requested department.
For a company's headquarters, typical phrases include „der Sitz der Zentrale“ (the headquarters' location), „von der Zentrale aus leiten“ (to manage from headquarters), and „in der Zentrale arbeiten“ (to work at headquarters).
Von der Zentrale aus werden die Filialen im ganzen Land betreut.
The branches throughout the country are managed from headquarters.
In the meaning of a coordination center, „Zentrale“ (control center) often appears with verbs such as „sich melden“ (to report in), „durchgeben“ (to relay), or „Anweisungen erhalten“ (to receive instructions). Information is often transmitted to the control center.
Die Streifenwagen gaben ihre Position an die Zentrale durch.
The patrol cars relayed their location to the control center.
For a technical switchboard, common phrases include „mit der Zentrale verbunden werden“ (to be connected to the switchboard) and „jemanden mit der Zentrale verbinden“ (to connect someone to the switchboard). In this context, the focus is usually on establishing or routing a call.
Nach kurzer Wartezeit wurde ich mit der Zentrale verbunden.
After a short wait, I was connected to the switchboard.
