Doppelpunkt
/ˈdɔpl̩ˌpʊŋkt/masculine
The English word 'colon' (the punctuation mark) is translated into German as Doppelpunkt or Kolon.
Meaning: punctuation mark (noun)
Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Doppelpunkt | /ˈdɔpl̩ˌpʊŋkt/ | masculine |
| Kolon | /ˈkoːlɔn/ | neuter |
Both terms refer to the punctuation mark (:), which is a type of Satzzeichen (punctuation mark).
Which one should you use?
Doppelpunkt is the standard term used in everyday writing and in school settings. In contrast, Kolon is a technical term used specifically in the fields of typography or linguistics.
How does it change in a sentence?
Doppelpunkt is a masculine noun and is used with the article der. Kolon is a neuter noun and is used with the article das.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈdɔpl̩ˌpʊŋkt/
Did you know?
- In German mathematical notation, the Doppelpunkt is used as the symbol for division, whereas English speakers typically use the 'obelus' (÷) or a slash.
- The term Kolon is a neuter noun das Kolon, whereas the more common Doppelpunkt is masculine der Doppelpunkt.
- The term Doppelpunkt is a literal compound of 'double' and 'dot', making its meaning much more transparent to a German speaker than the Latin-derived English 'colon'.
Examples in context
- Ein Doppelpunkt ist ein Interpunktionszeichen.A colon is a punctuation mark.This sentence is useful for identifying a colon as a type of punctuation mark.Tatoeba #8804362 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #8419948 by AlanF_US
- In meiner Sprache heißt das Zeichen »,« Komma, »;« Semikolon, »:« Doppelpunkt, bei »…« spricht man von Auslassungspunkten, und dieser Satz endet mit einem Punkt.In my language, the "," is called a comma, the ";" is called a semicolon, ":" is called a colon, "…" is called an ellipsis and this sentence ends in a full stop.This sentence shows how the term Doppelpunkt is used when listing various punctuation marks.Tatoeba #13875391 by Waldelfe, translation #13020735 by araneo
- Die Franzosen sind echt ein seltsames Volk: Von denen, die diesen Satz lesen, wird jeder zweite überprüfen, ob das Leerzeichen vor dem Doppelpunkt auch wirklich ein schmales geschütztes ist.The French are a really strange people: every other person who reads this sentence will check if the space before the colon is really thin and non-breaking.This sentence demonstrates the use of Doppelpunkt within a sentence context.Tatoeba #432233 by MUIRIEL, translation #765014 by Vortarulo
- In diesem Satz steht ein Doppelpunkt.In this sentence, there is a colon.
- Der Text enthält mehrere Satzzeichen, wie Komma, Punkt und Doppelpunkt.The text contains several punctuation marks, such as comma, period, and colon.
- Lies den Satz bis zum Doppelpunkt.Read the sentence until the colon.
Example conversation
Laura and Julian are checking a German grammar textbook.
- LauraSetzt man vor die Aufzählung einen Doppelpunkt?Do you put a colon before the list?
- JulianJa, der Doppelpunkt steht direkt nach dem Wort.Yes, the colon is placed directly after the word.
- LauraIst der Doppelpunkt wichtig für die Grammatik?Is the colon important for the grammar?
- JulianJa, er hilft dabei, den Satz zu strukturieren.Yes, it helps to structure the sentence.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “colon” translations and entries Doppelpunkt, Kolon, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries Doppelpunkt, Kolon, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
