Aufzug

Meaning and Usage

"Aufzug" in German translates to "elevator" or "lift" in English. It refers to a device used for raising or lowering people or goods to different levels within a building. The word can also refer to "an act of raising or lifting."

Linguistic Analysis

The word "Aufzug" is a compound noun and consists of the prefix "auf-" meaning "up" and the root "Zug" which means "pull" or "movement." The combination of these creates the meaning of "movement upwards." The etymology of "Zug" can be traced back to the Middle High German word "zuc" and the Old High German word "zug."

Comparisons between German and English

The word "lift" in English corresponds to "Aufzug" in German. Both languages use this term to refer to a device that moves people or goods vertically between different levels within a building.

Cultural Context

In German-speaking countries, "Aufzug" is a common term used to refer to elevators or lifts in everyday conversations and in signage within buildings.

Example Sentences

  1. Der Aufzug in diesem Gebäude ist außer Betrieb. (The elevator in this building is out of order.)
  2. Sie nahmen den Aufzug in den fünften Stock. (They took the lift to the fifth floor.)

Memory Tips

Associate "Aufzug" with the action of "moving upwards," as the combination of "auf-" (up) and "Zug" (movement) creates the meaning of "elevator" or "lift."

Additional Vocabulary

  • Die Treppe (feminine, plural: die Treppen) - the stairs
  • Der Fahrstuhl (masculine) - another word for elevator
  • Die Ebene (feminine, plural: die Ebenen) - the level or floor

Gender and Plural (for nouns)

Noun: der Aufzug (masculine) Plural: die Aufzüge

Conjugation (for verbs)

Not applicable as "Aufzug" is a noun and does not have a conjugated form.