die  Spanne

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/zɪ ˈʃpanə/

📖 What does "die Spanne" mean?

Die Spanne (noun, feminine) generally describes a range, span, or interval between two points. It can refer to various contexts:

• 🕰️ Temporal span (Zeitliche Spanne): A time interval or period. Example: die Spanne zwischen zwei Terminen (the span between two appointments).
• 📏 Spatial span (Räumliche Spanne): A distance or gap. Example: die Spanne zwischen zwei Pfeilern (the span between two pillars). Often used as Handspanne (handspan - the distance between the tip of the thumb and the little finger when the hand is spread out).
• 💰 Economic span (Wirtschaftliche Spanne): The difference between two values, often the buying and selling price (Gewinnspanne, Marge - profit margin) or a price range (Preisspanne - from-to). Example: die Spanne zwischen Einkaufs- und Verkaufspreis (the margin between purchase and selling price).
• 📊 Abstract span (Abstrakte Spanne): A range of possibilities or opinions. Example: die ganze Spanne menschlicher Emotionen (the whole range of human emotions).

⚠️ It's important to consider the context to understand the precise meaning of 'die Spanne'.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Spanne' in Detail

"Spanne" is a feminine noun. The article is die.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Spanne zwischen den beiden Ereignissen betrug nur wenige Stunden. (The span between the two events was only a few hours.) [Temporal]
• Die Gewinnspanne bei diesem Produkt ist sehr gering. (The profit margin on this product is very small.) [Economic]
• Mit einer Handspanne maß er die Breite des Brettes. (He measured the width of the board with a handspan.) [Spatial]
• Es gibt eine große Spanne an Meinungen zu diesem Thema. (There is a wide range of opinions on this topic.) [Abstract]

🗣️ How to use "die Spanne"?

"Die Spanne" is frequently used to describe a range or a difference. Here are typical contexts:

• Time: To indicate the duration between two points in time ("eine Zeitspanne von drei Tagen" - a time span of three days).
• Economy/Trade: Very common for price differences, profit margins, or ranges ("Preisspanne" - price range, "Gewinnspanne" - profit margin).
• Measurement: Especially as "Handspanne" for an approximate measurement of length. Also generally for distances ("die Spanne zwischen den Augen" - the span between the eyes).
• Abstract: To express the variety or scope of something intangible ("die Spanne der Gefühle" - the range of feelings, "die Spanne der Möglichkeiten" - the range of possibilities).

Comparison:

• Bereich (area, range): Similar to "Spanne", but often broader and less focused on the difference itself.
• Intervall (interval): Often synonymous with "Zeitspanne", but also used in mathematics.
• Abstand (distance, gap): Emphasizes spatial or temporal distance more, whereas "Spanne" can also mean the difference (e.g., in prices).
• Marge (margin): Specific economic term for profit margin (Gewinnspanne).

🧠 Mnemonics for "die Spanne"

Article Mnemonic: Think of stretching a spandex band. Band is often feminine in related meanings (die Bandbreite - bandwidth). Imagine the spandex band marking die Spanne.

Meaning Mnemonic: The word comes from "spannen" (to span, stretch, tighten). Imagine spanning something between two points (a rope, your hand, a timeline, a price range). What's in between is die Spanne (the span).

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but misleading words:

• Spannung (die): tension, voltage, suspense
• Span (der): chip, shaving (of wood or metal)

😄 A Little Joke

German: Warum nehmen Mathematiker Lineale mit ins Bett?
Damit sie messen können, wie lang die Schlafspanne war!

English: Why do mathematicians take rulers to bed?
So they can measure how long their sleep span was!

✍️ Poem about 'die Spanne'

German:
Von früh bis spät, die Zeit verrinnt,
eine Spanne, die neu beginnt.
Zwischen Daumen und dem Finger klein,
misst die Handspanne, nicht ganz rein.
Beim Preis die Spanne, groß oft ist,
zwischen dem, was war und was nun ist.

English Translation:
From dawn till dusk, time flows away,
a span that starts anew each day.
Between the thumb and finger small,
the handspan measures, standing tall.
In price the span is often vast,
between the present and the past.

❓ Riddle Time

German:
Ich messe Zeit, doch hab kein Ticken,
ich zeige Raum, ganz ohne Blicken.
Im Handel bin ich oft Gewinn,
mal bin ich breit, mal eher dünn.

Was bin ich?

English:
I measure time, but have no tick,
I show space, without a flick (of an eye).
In trade, I'm often profit found,
Sometimes I'm wide, sometimes barely sound.

What am I?

Solution: die Spanne (the span/range/margin)

💡 Other Interesting Facts

Word Origin: The word "Spanne" derives from the verb "spannen", which means "to stretch", "to span", or "to tighten". It originally described the state or result of being stretched between two points.

Compounds (Zusammensetzungen): "Spanne" is part of many compound words, e.g.:

• Zeitspanne: time span
• Gewinnspanne: profit margin
• Preisspanne: price range
• Handspanne: handspan
• Aufmerksamkeitsspanne: attention span
• Lebensspanne: lifespan