Fear, dread, anxiety and fright

7 February 2020

If we do not know a word in a foreign language we generally look it up in an (online) dictionary. We generally find several translations for our word. For example, if I look for the English word for the German “Angst”, I will find the translation options fear, dread, anxiety and fright.

So, which is now the right word for our context? Which word conveys precisely the right meaning? Which one is suitable for a written text and which one is used only orally? And – very importantly – which thoughts and feelings does the word evoke in a native language speaker who reads or hears it?

Texts need to have a special effect. They should, for example, convey the reliability of a person or company and thereby strengthen the trust of a potential customer, business partner or employee. But that will only happen if precisely the right word is used.

“The difference between the right and the almost right word is the same as the difference between a flash of lightning and a firefly.” (Mark Twain)

Textbüro Reul delivers professional translations – quickly, reliably and in the highest quality. Our specialised and experienced translators will deliver the top-quality translation you expect.