German word

Kran

Pronunciation

IPA/kʁaːn/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncrane

Example

Am Hafen sieht man viele Kräne.

At the harbor, you can see many cranes.

Illustration for Kran (crane)

More examples

Der Monteur steuerte den Kran präzise.

The technician operated the crane precisely.

Core concept

A long-necked machine reaches over a load, lowers a hook, and lifts it.

Common phrases

  • den Kran steuern

    operate the crane

  • mit dem Kran heben

    lift with the crane

Similar words

Turmkran: A tall crane fixed at a construction site for lifting materials.
Autokran: A crane mounted on a road vehicle for mobile lifting work.

Definition in German

Maschine zum Heben und Bewegen schwerer Lasten mit einem Ausleger und Haken.

Word origin

Kran comes through Middle High German kran(e) from a Germanic word for the crane bird, whose long neck inspired the machine's name.

Usage tips

  • Kran is masculine, and its usual plural is Kräne, with an umlaut changing the vowel.

Related words

  • Krantechnikcrane technologynoun
  • Kranführercrane operatornoun

Word lists with this word