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die Richtung

noun · /ˈʁɪçtʊŋ/ ·
Etymology

From Middle High German richtunge, from Old High German rihtunga, from Proto-West Germanic *rihtungu. By surface analysis, richten + -ung.

Translation

  1. direction feminine

    Aus welcher Richtung?

    From which direction?

    In welche Richtung?

    (In) which direction?

    alle Richtungen

    all directions (on a road sign)

    (in) Richtung Norden

    towards the north, in a northern direction

  2. school of thought, branch, subfield (also used in a wider sense of "type" in certain compounds) feminine

    die verschiedenen Richtungen des Islams

    the different branches of Islam

Declension

CaseSingularPlural
Nominative Richtung Richtungen
Accusative Richtung Richtungen
Dative Richtung Richtungen
Genitive Richtung Richtungen

Richtung

prep · /ˈʁɪçtʊŋ/ ·
Etymology

Ellipsis of "in Richtung" (“in (the) direction (of)”). The usage with the nominative is a result of the original phrase attaching the specific direction as an apposition, leaving it uninflected.

Translation

  1. towards, to (in the context of larger scale orientation; arrival at the location is not implied) informal

    auf dem Weg Richtung Ziel

    on the way to the finish line

    Wir sind Richtung Strand gegangen.

    We walked towards the beach.

    Wer Polarlichter sehen will, muss Richtung Norden schauen.

    If you want to see the northern lights, you have to look towards the north.

    Der Zug Richtung Berlin hatte Verspätung.

    The train heading to Berlin was late.

    Die Weltfinanzkrise hat manche Planung über den Haufen geworfen, Mexiko zog in letzter Minute die Bewerbung für die Jugendolympiade zurück. Auch deshalb gehe die Tendenz Richtung Asien, so Schormann.

    The global financial crisis has thrown a wrench into many a plan, Mexico has withdrawn its application for the Youth Olympic Games at the last minute. This is among the reasons for why the decision is leaning towards Asia, Schormann says.