Terminology¶
This page is a quick translation reference between German and English terms commonly used in mechanical engineering, woodworking, and construction. It may help non-native speakers (like myself, an Austrian!) to connect terminology across both languages.
| German | English | Context / Description |
|---|---|---|
| Achse | shaft / axle | Rotating or stationary rod |
| Ausfräsung | Milled recess in a part | |
| Ausklinkung | notch | Cut-out in wood or metal |
| Aussparung | recess / cutout | Indentation or opening |
| Außengewinde | external thread | Thread on the outside of a shaft |
| Balken | beam | Horizontal load-bearing member |
| Basiskreis | base circle | Base circle for involute profile |
| Betonplatte | concrete slab | Flat massive concrete element |
| Bewehrung | reinforcement | Steel reinforcement in concrete |
| Bohle | plank | Thick flat wood board |
| Bohrung | hole / bore | Round opening |
| Brett | board / plank | Flat wood element |
| CAD | CAD (Computer-Aided Design) | Computer-based design work |
| Durchgangsloch | through hole | Hole that passes through entirely |
| Explosionsdarstellung | exploded view | Diagram showing parts spaced apart |
| Extrudieren | extrude | Create 3D shape from 2D profile |
| Falz | rebate / rabbet | Step or notch in wood |
| Fase | chamfer | Beveled edge treatment |
| Fußkreis | dedendum circle | Circle through gear tooth roots |
| Gewinde | thread | Helical ridge for fastening |
| Holzlatte | lath | Narrow wood strip, often vertical |
| Innengewinde | internal thread | Thread inside a hole |
| Kante abrunden | round over / fillet | Rounded edge treatment |
| Kegelrad | bevel gear | Teeth on a conical surface |
| Keilnut | keyway | Slot for a machine key |
| Kontur | contour | Outline of a shape |
| Kopfkreis | addendum circle | Circle through gear tooth tips |
| Lager | bearing | Component for guiding shafts |
| Leiste | strip / batten | Narrow wood strip |
| Maß | dimension | Measurement of size |
| Montage | assembly | Process of putting parts together |
| Mutter | nut | Mating part for a bolt/screw |
| Nut | groove | Linear recess or channel |
| Nut und Feder | tongue and groove | Interlocking board joint |
| Passfeder | key (machine element) | Fits in keyway for torque transfer |
| Pfosten | post / column | Vertical support element |
| Polygonzug | polyline | Connected sequence of lines |
| Profil | profile | Cross-section shape |
| Rahmen | frame | Structural framework |
| Rotationskörper | revolve | Shape created by rotating a profile |
| Sackloch | blind hole | Hole that does not go through |
| Schlitz | slot | Elongated opening |
| Schneckenrad | worm gear | Screw-and-wheel drive |
| Schraube | screw | General fastening element |
| Schwalbenschwanz | dovetail joint | Interlocking wood joint |
| Sechskantschraube | hex bolt | Screw with hexagonal head |
| Senkung | countersink | Conical recess for screw head |
| Spannvorrichtung | clamp / fixture | Device to hold workpiece |
| Steigung (Gewinde) | pitch | Distance between thread crests |
| Stirnrad | spur gear | Teeth parallel to axis |
| Stoß | butt joint | End-to-end joint |
| Stückliste | bill of materials (BOM) | List of all parts in a build |
| Stütze | support / post / pillar | Vertical load-bearing member |
| Sweeping | sweep | Extrusion along a path |
| Teilkreis | pitch circle | Reference circle for tooth spacing |
| Toleranz | tolerance | Allowable size deviation |
| Traverse | crossbar | Cross connection element |
| Träger | girder | Large primary beam |
| Unterlegscheibe | washer | Flat disk to distribute load |
| Vorrichtung | jig / fixture | Tool for guiding a work process |
| Werkstück | workpiece | The piece being worked on |
| Zahn | tooth | Single tooth of a gear |
| Zahnrad | gear | General toothed wheel |
| Zapfen | pin / journal | Axle stub or positioning pin |
| Zapfenverbindung | mortise and tenon joint | Classic wood joinery |
| Überblattung | lap joint | Overlapping joint |