Can “Gewehr” and “Waffe” be used interchangeably?
1
It seems that "Gewehr" can mean gun, but also specifically rifles. Can "Gewehr" be used more generally to mean all guns, or does it only mean rifles specifically?
meaning
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
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add a comment |
1
It seems that "Gewehr" can mean gun, but also specifically rifles. Can "Gewehr" be used more generally to mean all guns, or does it only mean rifles specifically?
meaning
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago
add a comment |
1
1
1
It seems that "Gewehr" can mean gun, but also specifically rifles. Can "Gewehr" be used more generally to mean all guns, or does it only mean rifles specifically?
meaning
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
It seems that "Gewehr" can mean gun, but also specifically rifles. Can "Gewehr" be used more generally to mean all guns, or does it only mean rifles specifically?
meaning
meaning
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
asked 12 hours ago
kevin_ten11kevin_ten11
1113
1113
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
kevin_ten11 is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
3
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago
add a comment |
3
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago
3
3
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
5
Gewehr typically denotes any gun that has a long barrel (as opposed to a pistol).
And no, it is not the generic term for gun, that would be Schusswaffe.
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
6
Waffe = weapon
This can be a gun, a bomb, a missile, and many other things that are made to hurt or kill people.
Depending on the context a Waffe also can be anything that can be used to hurt or kill people, independent for what it was made. So also a screwdriver, a baseball bat or a box cutter can be weapons.
Gewehr = riffle, long gun
A Gewehr is any gun with a long barrel, i.e. something to shoot bullets, but not a pistol.
Schusswaffe = gun
Schusswaffe (literal: shoot-weapon) is the German word for any weapons that can be used to shoot bullets.
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
5
Gewehr typically denotes any gun that has a long barrel (as opposed to a pistol).
And no, it is not the generic term for gun, that would be Schusswaffe.
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
5
Gewehr typically denotes any gun that has a long barrel (as opposed to a pistol).
And no, it is not the generic term for gun, that would be Schusswaffe.
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
5
5
5
Gewehr typically denotes any gun that has a long barrel (as opposed to a pistol).
And no, it is not the generic term for gun, that would be Schusswaffe.
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
Gewehr typically denotes any gun that has a long barrel (as opposed to a pistol).
And no, it is not the generic term for gun, that would be Schusswaffe.
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
answered 12 hours ago
tofrotofro
42.3k140128
42.3k140128
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
1
1
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
Add to that, "Waffe" would be akin to weapon, with the regular p>f correspondence
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
1
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
Since Wehr only means defense, there must be a particular language historic reason. Imaginably, pistols were an innovation taken from Italian, contrasting with the long builds. A Pistol is generically called "Handfeuerwaffe". In the same way, a "Schusswaffe" should, but practically doesn't denote an archers bow. In contrast to a bow, guns involve gun-fire, but we do not say "Feuerwaffe", though the term does seem to exist, to my surprise.
– vectory
12 hours ago
1
1
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@vectory Why do you say a bow isn't a Schusswaffe? If you asked me to name one, I'd probably name a type of gun first, but if you asked me what type of weapon a bow was, I'd definitely say Schusswaffe. The crossbow is another such case.
– Philipp
11 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@Phillip, it's not even a weapon, nowadays, but a "Sportgerät" or a historical artifact.
– vectory
10 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
@vectory Sorry, you're thinking of Bundeswehr or Feuerwehr, but the historic term is, rather specifically, a long knive with one sharp edge, the defence weapon of a free man, but not a nobleman or for war. And "Feuerwaffe" separates the gun from the crossbow, both of which are "Schusswaffen". Also in modern legal terms, where the latter are qualified by the ability to be kept charged without effort, and released by a trigger. A bow is not per se regarded as a weapon, but only if actually used as such.
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
6
Waffe = weapon
This can be a gun, a bomb, a missile, and many other things that are made to hurt or kill people.
Depending on the context a Waffe also can be anything that can be used to hurt or kill people, independent for what it was made. So also a screwdriver, a baseball bat or a box cutter can be weapons.
Gewehr = riffle, long gun
A Gewehr is any gun with a long barrel, i.e. something to shoot bullets, but not a pistol.
Schusswaffe = gun
Schusswaffe (literal: shoot-weapon) is the German word for any weapons that can be used to shoot bullets.
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
6
Waffe = weapon
This can be a gun, a bomb, a missile, and many other things that are made to hurt or kill people.
Depending on the context a Waffe also can be anything that can be used to hurt or kill people, independent for what it was made. So also a screwdriver, a baseball bat or a box cutter can be weapons.
Gewehr = riffle, long gun
A Gewehr is any gun with a long barrel, i.e. something to shoot bullets, but not a pistol.
Schusswaffe = gun
Schusswaffe (literal: shoot-weapon) is the German word for any weapons that can be used to shoot bullets.
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
6
6
6
Waffe = weapon
This can be a gun, a bomb, a missile, and many other things that are made to hurt or kill people.
Depending on the context a Waffe also can be anything that can be used to hurt or kill people, independent for what it was made. So also a screwdriver, a baseball bat or a box cutter can be weapons.
Gewehr = riffle, long gun
A Gewehr is any gun with a long barrel, i.e. something to shoot bullets, but not a pistol.
Schusswaffe = gun
Schusswaffe (literal: shoot-weapon) is the German word for any weapons that can be used to shoot bullets.
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
Waffe = weapon
This can be a gun, a bomb, a missile, and many other things that are made to hurt or kill people.
Depending on the context a Waffe also can be anything that can be used to hurt or kill people, independent for what it was made. So also a screwdriver, a baseball bat or a box cutter can be weapons.
Gewehr = riffle, long gun
A Gewehr is any gun with a long barrel, i.e. something to shoot bullets, but not a pistol.
Schusswaffe = gun
Schusswaffe (literal: shoot-weapon) is the German word for any weapons that can be used to shoot bullets.
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
edited 10 hours ago
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
answered 10 hours ago
Hubert SchölnastHubert Schölnast
72.1k6104238
72.1k6104238
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
German language (and law) makes a clear distiction between a weapon, made for the purpose (a gun, a spring knive, a crossbow), and sth. that is just used as one in a given case (screwdriver, axe, bow and arrow ,..).
– Karl
8 hours ago
add a comment |
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3
"Waffe" means "weapon" and that doesn't have to be something that can shoot.
– Rudy Velthuis
12 hours ago
No. Gewehr is rifle, a special case of a weapon you can fire, which in turn is a special case of Waffe (any weapon).
– Robert
11 hours ago