Kollokation

collocation (habitual word combination)

noun ko-lo-ka-TSYOHN Rare

Origin: from Latin collocatio (arrangement)

Usage Note

Kollokation refers to words that typically occur together, such as einen Antrag stellen (to make a request) rather than einen Antrag machen. Mastering Kollokationen is key to sounding natural in German.

Examples

"Die Kollokation 'eine Entscheidung treffen' ist idiomatischer als 'eine Entscheidung machen'."

Natural Translation

The collocation 'eine Entscheidung treffen' is more idiomatic than 'eine Entscheidung machen'.

Literal Translation

The collocation 'a decision meet/take' is more idiomatic than 'a decision make'.

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