kennel / Zwinger
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kennel
A usually fenced-in area or small outdoor building in which one or more dogs are kept.
Der Wachhund des Hofes lebt in einem großen Zwinger neben der Scheune.
The farm's guard dog lives in a large kennel next to the barn.
The word 'Zwinger' is related to the verb 'zwingen' (to force). In both meanings, there is the idea of being forced to stay somewhere: the dog is forced to remain in the enclosure, and attackers of a castle were forced into the Zwinger in order to fight them there.
Man sollte einen Hund nicht den ganzen Tag im Zwinger lassen.
You shouldn't leave a dog in a kennel all day.
The context makes the meaning clear. If it is about dogs or animal keeping, it means an enclosure. If it is about history, architecture, castles, or the city of Dresden, it means the fortification or the famous building.
Der Tierschutzverein befreite die Hunde aus den engen Zwingern.
The animal welfare association freed the dogs from the cramped kennels.
In the meaning 'Hundegehege' (dog enclosure), the word is often combined with verbs such as 'halten' (to keep), 'sperren' (to lock up), or 'leben' (to live).
Es ist verboten, Hunde dauerhaft im Zwinger zu halten.
It is forbidden to keep dogs permanently in a kennel.
When people talk about the 'Dresdner Zwinger' (Dresden Zwinger) or simply 'dem Zwinger' in the context of a trip, they almost always mean the world-famous Baroque building with its museums in Dresden. It is a proper name for a specific building.
Im Zwinger befindet sich die berühmte Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister.
The famous Old Masters Picture Gallery is located in the Zwinger.
cage
'der Käfig' and 'der Zwinger' can both be places where animals do not run free. The difference is mainly the type of animal and the shape. A 'Käfig' is usually a small container made of bars or wire, for example for birds, rabbits, or animals during transport. A 'Zwinger' is usually an outdoor area or small building for dogs. Learners can confuse the words because both enclose an animal. For dogs in a garden or on a farm, though, people are more likely to say 'Zwinger'; for small animals or transport, 'Käfig' is more appropriate.
Der Hund bleibt nur kurz im Zwinger, wenn die Handwerker im Garten sind.
The dog only stays in the kennel briefly when the builders are in the garden.
In der Nachbarschaft hat Julian den Vogel aus Versehen im offenen Käfig gelassen.
In the neighborhood, Julian accidentally left the bird in the open cage.