German Conversation · Level 18
90 words
German word
Hebel
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈheːbl̩/
Meaning
- masculine nounlever
Example
Sie benutzt den Hebel, um die Tür zu öffnen.
She uses the lever to open the door.
More examples
Die Politikerin setzte den Hebel an, um die Reformen durchzusetzen.
The politician applied leverage to push the reforms through.
Core concept
A bar pivoting on a support turns a small push into a larger effect, both physically and figuratively.
Common phrases
den Hebel ansetzen
apply leverage
am Hebel sitzen
be in control
Similar words
Einfluss: The power to affect people, events, or decisions.
Hebelwirkung: A large effect produced by using only a small amount of force or effort.
Macht: Authority or control that enables someone to direct events or others.
Definition in German
Stange, die an einem Auflagepunkt mit geringem Kraftaufwand größere Kraft auf ein Objekt überträgt; übertragen Mittel, um Einfluss auszuüben.
Word origin
Hebel comes from Middle High German hevel or hebel and is related to the German verb heben, meaning 'to lift'; its meaning later extended to influence.
Usage tips
- Hebel is masculine, and its plural is also Hebel, so der Hebel and die Hebel have different articles but the same noun form.
Other meanings
- leveragenoun
Opposites
- Machtlosigkeitpowerlessnessnoun
Related words
- Hebelwirkungleveragenoun
- hebelnleververb