Using German Synonyms

by Martin Durrell

This book, designed for students who have already developed a basic competence in German, aims to broaden and improve their vocabulary by providing detailed information on groups of German words with related meanings. It is invaluable as a guide to finding the right word for the context. In order to enhance understanding of the structure of the German vocabulary, groups of synonyms are organised under German (rather than English) headwords. All entries are accompanied by an example of usage and English glosses and there are two indexes allowing users quickly to locate words in German or English. The book takes full account of register variation, indicating the degree of formal or informal use, and reflects regional usage especially in Austria and Switzerland. It is an essential reference for intermediate and advanced students as well as teachers and other professional linguists seeking access to the finer nuances of the German language.

Genres: German Literature

346 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2000

Reviews

[David Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent reference work as well as an effective learning guide. It's a great resource for vocabulary building, and I try to read through at least one section each day both for language maintenance and extending my vocabulary.

Each section highlights a group of synonyms under a main header such as [GIVE: give, grant, donate, bestow upon, bequeath, hand down], giving 3-4 sentences taken from various sources such as newspapers and novels for each of the words in the grouping. Some send me off on extended dictionary searches, and others inspire internet searches on specific vocabulary.

This book is part of a series which covers a few other languages in addition to German. I use the Arabic equivalent regularly, as well.