die  Webcam

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈvɛpˌkɛm/

📹 What does 'die Webcam' mean?

The German word die Webcam refers to a small digital camera connected to or integrated into a computer. Its primary function is to capture images or videos in real-time and transmit them over the internet (das Web), for example, for video conferences (Videokonferenzen), streaming, or surveillance.

It's a compound word derived from English: 'Web' (for World Wide Web) and 'Cam' (short for Camera). In German, the word takes the feminine article 'die', likely adopted from the gender of the underlying German concept, 'die Kamera' (the camera).

There's only this one meaning and article for the word in German.

🧐 Grammar and Declension of 'die Webcam'

The noun 'Webcam' is feminine. Here is its declension:

Example Sentences

• Die neue Webcam hat eine sehr gute Bildqualität. (The new webcam has very good picture quality.)
• Kannst du bitte die Webcam einschalten? (Can you please turn on the webcam?)
• Ich habe mir gestern eine Webcam für Videotelefonate gekauft. (I bought a webcam for video calls yesterday.)
• Die Qualität vieler eingebauter Webcams ist oft nicht ausreichend. (The quality of many built-in webcams is often insufficient.)

💡 How to use 'die Webcam'?

The term 'Webcam' is widely used in German, especially in the context of computers and internet communication (Internetkommunikation).

• Video calls/conferences: "Ich brauche eine Webcam für das Meeting morgen." (I need a webcam for the meeting tomorrow.)
• Streaming: "Viele Gamer nutzen eine externe Webcam für ihre Streams." (Many gamers use an external webcam for their streams.)
• Identification: Sometimes a Webcam is used for identity verification.
• Surveillance (Überwachung): Simple Webcams can also be used for room surveillance.

Common verbs used with 'Webcam' are: anschließen (to connect), installieren (to install), benutzen (to use), einschalten (to turn on), ausschalten (to turn off), abdecken (to cover).

Although German equivalents like 'Netzkamera' or 'Internetkamera' exist, the Anglicism 'Webcam' is almost exclusively used in everyday language (Alltagssprache).

🧠 Mnemonics for 'die Webcam'

For the article 'die': Think of the German word for camera: 'die Kamera'. A webcam is a type of camera, so it adopts the feminine article: die Kamera → die Webcam.

For the meaning: Break down the word: Web (like the internet) + Cam (short for Camera). It's a camera that connects you to the Web.

🔄 Synonyms and Related Terms

Confusing Terms

• Kamera: General term for camera; not every Kamera is a Webcam.
• IP-Kamera: Often used for surveillance, accessible via network/internet, but not always intended as a PC webcam.

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat die Webcam Schluss gemacht?
Sie fühlte sich ständig beobachtet! 😉

(Why did the webcam break up?
It constantly felt watched!)

✍️ Poem about the Webcam

Ein kleines Aug', am Schirm es klebt,
Die Webcam, die die Welt belebt.
Sie zeigt mein Lächeln, fern und nah,
Verbindung digital, wunderbar.
Ob Konferenz, ob Plausch, ob Spiel,
Sie bringt uns nah, das ist ihr Ziel.

(A little eye, stuck to the screen,
The webcam, bringing life to the scene.
It shows my smile, from far and near,
A digital connection, wonderfully clear.
Whether conference, chat, or game,
Bringing us closer is its aim.)

❓ Riddle

Ich habe ein Auge, doch kann ich nicht seh'n,
Ich zeige dich online, digital und schön.
Ich sitz' auf dem Monitor, klein und adrett,
Und verbinde dich live übers Internet.

Was bin ich?
... Die Webcam

(I have an eye, but cannot see,
I show you online, digitally.
I sit on the monitor, small and neat,
Connecting you live via the internet street.

What am I?

... The Webcam)

🌐 Other Information

Word Composition (Wortzusammensetzung): As mentioned, 'Webcam' is a compound word from the English terms 'Web' (short for World Wide Web) and 'Cam' (short for Camera).

Anglicism (Anglizismus): The word is a typical Anglicism firmly established in the German language. The pronunciation is based on English.

Development (Entwicklung): The first webcams emerged in the early 1990s. Today, they are standard features in most laptops and smartphones.