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German Phrase

DSL nutzt Telefonleitungen.

/deː ɛs ˈʔeːl ˈnʏtst teˈleːfonˈlaɪ̯tn̩/
Meaning"DSL uses telephone lines."
💡

Meaning

The sentence means ‘DSL uses telephone lines.’ It explains that the broadband technology runs over the existing copper telephone infrastructure rather than requiring new cables.

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When to use

Use this sentence when you are describing how DSL works, comparing it to other internet technologies, or answering a question about the physical medium of DSL connections.

✦Grammar Breakdown

DSLnutztTelefonleitungen

1

Verb conjugation (nutzen)

‘nutzt’ is the 3rd person singular present form of ‘nutzen’ and must agree with the singular subject ‘DSL’.

2

Accusative object

‘Telefonleitungen’ is a plural noun in the accusative case, serving as the direct object of the verb.

3

Abbreviation pronunciation

When saying the abbreviation DSL, each letter is spoken separately: ‘de‑e‑es‑ʔe‑el’.

🗨In Conversation

A

Wie funktioniert DSL genau?

How does DSL actually work?

DSL nutzt Telefonleitungen.

DSL uses telephone lines.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • DSL nutzen Telefonleitungen.

    The verb must be conjugated to match the singular subject ‘DSL’; use ‘nutzt’ not ‘nutzen’.

  • DSL nutzt Telefonleitung.

    ‘Telefonleitung’ is singular; the sentence talks about multiple lines, so use the plural ‘Telefonleitungen’.

↔Alternatives

  • DSL verwendet Telefonleitungen.

    DSL uses telephone lines.

  • DSL arbeitet über Telefonleitungen.

    DSL operates over telephone lines.

  • DSL läuft über die Telefonleitungen.

    DSL runs over the telephone lines.

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Cultural Tip

In German tech discussions, ‘Telefonleitungen’ usually refers to the old copper pair that once carried voice calls. While DSL still uses this infrastructure, many German households are now being upgraded to ‘Glasfaser’ (fiber optics), so you may also hear ‘DSL wird durch Glasfaser ersetzt.’