German word

Reinigung

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʁaɪ̯nɪgʊŋ/

Meaning

  • feminine nouncleaning

Example

Ich mache heute die Reinigung im Wohnzimmer.

I'm doing the cleaning in the living room today.

Illustration for Reinigung (cleaning)

More examples

Die gründliche Reinigung dauert den ganzen Vormittag.

The thorough cleaning takes all morning.

Core concept

A removal process takes dirt or impurities away and leaves a thing, place, or material clean and usable.

Common phrases

  • gründliche Reinigung

    thorough cleaning

  • tägliche Reinigung

    daily cleaning

  • bei der Reinigung

    during the cleaning

Similar words

Putzen: The physical work of wiping or scrubbing away dirt.
Reinigungskraft: Someone whose job is cleaning homes or buildings.
Reinigungsfirma: A business hired to carry out cleaning work.
Sauberkeit: A clean condition without dirt or impurities.

Definition in German

Reinigung bezeichnet den Vorgang, Schmutz, Flecken oder Verunreinigungen von Gegenständen, Oberflächen oder Räumen zu entfernen und sie sauber zu machen.

Word origin

The noun Reinigung comes from reinigen, which combines rein with the verb-forming element -igen, plus the action-noun suffix -ung.

Usage tips

  • Reinigung can refer to a professional service or formal process, whereas putzen is the usual verb for cleaning a home.

Other meanings

  • dry cleaningnoun
  • washingnoun
  • purificationnoun

Opposites

  • Verschmutzungsoilingnoun
  • Verunreinigungcontaminationnoun

Related words

  • reinigencleanverb
  • Reinigungsmittelcleaning agentnoun
  • Reinigungsgerätcleaning devicenoun

Word lists with this word