In German, both Ergebnis and Resultat mean "result," but they have different nuances and typical contexts. Ergebnis is the more common, general term for any outcome or conclusion, used in everything from conversations to formal writing. Resultat is a bit more formal and is often reserved for contexts like sports, exams, or scientific findings, giving a slightly more technical or official feel.
- Ergebnis: General, common, any outcome/conclusion.
- Resultat: More formal, technical; used in sports, exams, science.
*Ergebnis* is the preferred term for 'result' in most everyday situations.
'Resultat' is typically used for results in sports, exams, and scientific contexts.
Ergebnis
Ergebnis (das Ergebnis, plural: Ergebnisse) is the standard word for any result, outcome, or conclusion that comes from a process, event, or action. It’s used widely in daily life, business, politics, education, and more.
- Can refer to outcomes of discussions, projects, tests, experiments, and even sports.
- Used in both formal and informal settings.
Example Sentences with Ergebnis
- Das Ergebnis der Wahl wird morgen bekanntgegeben.
(The result of the election will be announced tomorrow.)
- Wir warten auf das Ergebnis des Tests.
(We are waiting for the test result.)
- Das Ergebnis des Meetings war sehr positiv.
(The outcome of the meeting was very positive.)
Resultat
Resultat (das Resultat, plural: Resultate) is more formal and is often used when referring to concrete, measurable results—especially in contexts like sports scores, exam results, and scientific data. It has a slightly more technical or official tone than Ergebnis.
- Commonly used in sports broadcasts, academic reports, and research publications.
- Less common in everyday conversation.
Example Sentences with Resultat
- Das Resultat des Rennens war überraschend.
(The result of the race was surprising.)
- Sie haben das Resultat ihrer Prüfungen erhalten.
(They received the results of their exams.)
- Die Studie lieferte ein eindeutiges Resultat.
(The study produced a clear result.)
Both *Resultat* and *Ergebnis* can be used, but *Resultat* often conveys a more technical nuance.
Comparison in Context
| Situation | Preferred Term | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| Project outcome | Ergebnis | General and widely applicable |
| Sports score | Resultat | More formal and typical for sports |
| Exam results | Resultat | Formal, often used for official results |
| Meeting conclusion | Ergebnis | General, suitable for any discussion |
| Scientific results | Resultat | More precise/technical |
For a project outcome, 'das Ergebnis' is the most natural choice.
For 'the final score,' 'das Resultat' is more common.
Conclusion
Ergebnis is your go-to word for "result" in almost all situations, especially if you want to sound natural in everyday German. Use Resultat when you want to be a bit more formal or technical, especially in contexts like sports, exams, or scientific research.
- Use Ergebnis for general, everyday outcomes.
- Reserve Resultat for formal, technical, or specialized results.
- Both words are neuter and have similar plural forms (Ergebnisse, Resultate).