Lerne in deiner Sprache
English العربية Español Français 日本語 한국어 Português हिन्दी فارسی 中文
B2 noun Neutral 2 Min. Lesezeit

fragment

frɑxˈmɛnt
Jetzt üben

Overview

The Dutch word 'fragment' is a versatile term that directly translates from its Latin root, 'fragmentum', meaning 'a piece broken off'. This etymology provides a clear understanding of its primary usage. In its most common noun form, 'fragment' refers to a small, often irregularly shaped, part that has been broken or separated from a larger object. Think of a shard of pottery, a splinter of wood, or a chip from a stone; these are all 'fragmenten' in Dutch. This usage is very literal and is frequently encountered in contexts related to archaeology, construction, or accidents where objects have been broken.

Beyond its physical application, 'fragment' also extends to more abstract concepts. It can describe an incomplete or isolated part of something non-physical, such as a passage from a literary work, a snippet of a song, or a partial memory. For instance, if you recall only a small portion of a dream, you would describe it as a 'fragment' of that dream. Similarly, a short excerpt from a book or a piece of music would also be called a 'fragment'. This abstract usage highlights the idea of incompleteness or a partial representation of a whole.

Interestingly, 'fragment' can also function as a verb in Dutch, 'fragmenteren'. This verb means 'to break or cause to break into fragments'. This implies a process of disintegration or division. For example, a fragile object might 'fragmenteren' upon impact, or a cohesive group could 'fragmenteren' due to internal disagreements. This verbal form emphasizes the action of becoming broken into smaller pieces.

The word carries connotations of incompleteness, partiality, and often, a sense of something lost or broken from its original state. When used, it can evoke imagery of remnants, traces, or small surviving parts of what was once whole. Its usage is quite consistent with its English counterpart, making it relatively straightforward for English speakers to grasp its meaning and application in Dutch. Understanding 'fragment' requires appreciating both its concrete and abstract applications, recognizing that it always points to a smaller, often detached, part of a larger entity.

Beispiele

1

De archeologen vonden fragmenten van oude potten.

Archaeology

The archaeologists found fragments of ancient pots.

2

Ik ving een fragment van haar gesprek op.

Listening

I caught a fragment of her conversation.

3

Het lied bevat fragmenten van verschillende muziekstijlen.

Music

The song contains fragments of various musical styles.

4

Na de explosie waren er overal glasscherven en andere fragmenten.

Disaster/Damage

After the explosion, there were glass shards and other fragments everywhere.

5

Hij kon zich slechts fragmenten van de droom herinneren.

Memory/Dreams

He could only remember fragments of the dream.

Häufige Kollokationen

zinsfragment
stemfragment
filmfragment
DNA-fragment

Wird oft verwechselt mit

fragment vs. w
80+ WORDS

Grammatikmuster

p1 p2 p3

So verwendest du es

Nutzungshinweise

'Fragment' is a common and versatile word in Dutch. It is a masculine noun (het fragment) and follows regular Dutch pluralization rules, becoming 'fragmenten' in the plural. It can be used in both formal and informal contexts without any significant difference in register. For example, one might hear 'een fragment van een lied' (a fragment of a song) or 'een fragment uit een boek' (a fragment from a book). It's often followed by the preposition 'van' (of) or 'uit' (from) to specify the whole from which the fragment originates. While generally referring to something physical or tangible, it can also be used abstractly, such as 'een fragment van een herinnering' (a fragment of a memory). The word itself is quite neutral and carries no inherent positive or negative connotations, its implications depending entirely on the context in which it's used.

Häufige Fehler

One common mistake is confusing 'fragment' with 'segment.' While both refer to a part of something larger, a 'fragment' often implies a piece that has broken off or is incomplete, whereas a 'segment' typically suggests a natural division or section of a whole that is still intact or considered as a complete unit within a larger structure. For example, you might talk about a 'fragment of pottery' (something broken), but a 'segment of an orange' (a natural division). Another mistake is using 'fragment' when a more specific term like 'excerpt' (for text) or 'clip' (for audio/video) would be more appropriate, implying a deliberate selection rather than a broken piece. Additionally, sometimes people incorrectly use 'fragment' to describe something small but whole, rather than a part of something larger.

Tipps

💡

Pronunciation

The 'g' in 'fragment' is pronounced like the 'ch' in Scottish 'loch', or the 'g' in 'garage' in French. The stress is on the first syllable.
💡

Common Mistakes

Be careful not to confuse 'fragment' with similar-sounding English words. While the meaning is similar, the pronunciation is different. Also, make sure to use the correct plural form 'fragmenten'.
💡

Usage Examples

Here are a few examples of how 'fragment' can be used in a sentence: 1. 'We vonden een fragment van een oude pot.' (We found a fragment of an old pot.) 2. 'Slechts een fragment van zijn verhaal is bewaard gebleven.' (Only a fragment of his story has been preserved.) 3. 'De explosie liet overal fragmenten achter.' (The explosion left fragments everywhere.)

Wortherkunft

From Old French 'fragment' or Latin 'fragmentum'.

Kultureller Kontext

The Dutch word 'fragment' directly translates to 'fragment' in English, and its meaning is largely consistent across both languages: a small, incomplete part of something larger. In Dutch culture, the concept of a fragment can appear in various contexts, reflecting a nuanced appreciation for incompleteness or the beauty of a partial glimpse. For instance, in art and literature, a 'fragment' might refer to a surviving piece of an ancient text, a ruined sculpture, or a short, evocative passage from a larger work. This can often imbue the fragment with a certain mystery or poignancy, inviting contemplation about what is missing or what once was. In everyday conversation, it can be used to describe a snippet of a song, a brief memory, or a small section of a larger plan. There isn't a particularly unique cultural connotation beyond this general understanding of a piece or part.

Merkhilfe

Visualize a broken mirror: each 'fragment' is a tiny piece, reflecting a small part of the whole picture. 'Frag' sounds like 'fracture,' which means a break.

Häufig gestellte Fragen

4 Fragen
A fragment, in a general sense, refers to a small, incomplete, or broken part of something larger. It can be a piece of a whole, a segment detached from its original context, or an isolated portion of a bigger entity. The term is widely applicable across various fields, from physical objects and written works to abstract concepts and data. For instance, a pottery fragment is a broken piece of a ceramic item, a sentence fragment is an incomplete sentence lacking a subject or a predicate, and a memory fragment might be an incomplete recollection of an event. The significance of a fragment often lies in its relationship to the original whole, providing clues, insights, or a partial understanding of what once was or what is intended to be.
Certainly! In literature, a 'fragment' might be an unfinished manuscript, a surviving piece of an ancient text, or a short, often poetic, piece that doesn't form a complete narrative. In technology, a 'disk fragment' refers to data broken into pieces and stored in non-contiguous locations on a hard drive, which can slow down computer performance. In biology, a 'DNA fragment' is a piece of a DNA molecule, often used in genetic engineering. In art, an 'architectural fragment' could be a salvaged piece of a demolished building, often displayed for historical or aesthetic value. Each context highlights the core meaning of a small, incomplete part of something larger, but with specific implications and uses within that field.
The word 'fragment' has a rich etymological history, tracing back to Latin roots. It originates from the Latin word 'fragmentum,' which means 'a broken piece,' 'a remnant,' or 'a splinter.' This, in turn, comes from the verb 'frangere,' meaning 'to break.' The suffix '-mentum' is used to form nouns denoting the result of an action. Therefore, 'fragment' literally means 'that which has been broken.' This etymology clearly reinforces the core meaning of the word as a part that has been separated or detached from a larger whole. Its meaning has remained remarkably consistent across centuries, reflecting its fundamental concept of incompleteness or partiality.
While 'fragment,' 'piece,' and 'section' can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often carry subtle but important distinctions. A 'piece' is a very general term for any part of a whole, whether it's broken off, cut, or naturally occurring. A 'section' implies a division or portion of something, often with a clear boundary or purpose within the larger structure, like a section of a book or a section of a city. 'Fragment,' however, specifically connotes incompleteness, a separation, or a broken state. It often suggests that the part is smaller than intended, or that the original whole is no longer intact. For example, you might have a 'piece' of cake, a 'section' of a newspaper, but a 'fragment' of an ancient pottery shard, emphasizing its broken and incomplete nature.

Teste dich selbst

fill blank

De archeologen vonden een klein ______ van een oud beeld.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank

Slechts een paar ______ van de brief bleven over na de brand.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:
fill blank

Het is slechts een ______, het hele verhaal ontbreekt nog.

Richtig! Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort:

Ergebnis: /3

Verwandte Inhalte

War das hilfreich?

Kommentare (0)

Zum Kommentieren Anmelden
Noch keine Kommentare. Sei der Erste, der seine Gedanken teilt!