Kleintransporter

English translation: (mini) panel van or light truck or van

09:12 Sep 2, 2001
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering
German term or phrase: Kleintransporter
Der neue Kleintransporter. Minivan??? or just a van?? google translated it to small transporter but that just does not seem right any suggestions!!
Sonja Cooper (X)
English translation:(mini) panel van or light truck or van
Explanation:


This one is not easy. As Evind mentioned, a Minivan is usually a somewhat oversized or undersized family car, the oversized ones are normally shaped like a teardrop with the small end forward and the undersized ones mostly look like a shoebox with a nose. A pick-up is usually not translated or referred to as a "Pritsche" form of "Kleintransporter".

This site is not a real authority but they use "van" for "Kleintransporter":

http://www.pdcastings.co.uk/pbs/index.shtml

PBS (precision brake disks GmbH) is one of the foremost brake disks manufacturers in the automotive industry. PBS brake disks are available for most models of cars and vans, offering the customer the optimum product at the optimum price.

=

PBS (Präzisions Brems Scheiben GmbH) ist einer der führenden Hersteller von Bremsscheiben für die Automobilindustrie. PBS-Bremsscheiben sind für nahezu alle PKW-Modelle und Kleintransporter erhältlich und bieten dem Kunden das bestmögliche Produkt zum bestmöglichen Preis.

The biggest problem with "van" for "Kleintransporter" is that VW has or better had a model called simply the "Transporter". I have owned a couple and they were just a VW Bus without windows behind the driver's seat. That same model is now called a "Van".

This BBC site uses "VW van" for what I would call a "VW bus", in other words, with windows:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/events/newsnight/newsid_137...

So more confusion.

This less than authoritative site:

http://mars.spaceports.com/~bund/flecktarn_fahrzeuge-heer.ht...

uses the term small cargo lorries, but cannot even spell the plural of lorry:

Kleintransporter {Small cargo lorrys}

A Google English .com search for the phrase "small transporter" only turns up 112 hits, mostly not pertinent.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=100&btnG=Google-Suche...

The same search under .uk yields only nine hits, about half not pertinent.

Because of the limited usage, "small transporter" might not be such a good choice.

An old term, "panel van" still draws over 700 .uk English Google hits and over 3000 .com English Google hits. The problem is that although the term is very clearly self-explanatory, many of the hit sites refer to old-timer vehicles.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=100&btnG=Google-Suche...

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=lang_en&safe=o...

Some of the hits were modern enough though, such as this Citroen site:

http://www.avalon-citroen.co.uk/interface/generic01/WebPage....

DaimlerChrysler refers to a "Kastenwagen" as a "panel van" still today.

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/ecars/transporter/sprinter/pd...

As does Mazda:

http://www.southamptonmazda.com/s-evan.html

Based on all the above, I think "(mini) panel van" might still be the best choice even today if you know the rear of the vehicle is enclosed, if you do not know this for sure, "light truck" draws 26,000 .com English Google hits and over 200 .uk hits. "light lorry" draws only three hits so just plain "van" might be better for the UK.

HTH

Dan

Selected response from:

Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 20:45
Grading comment
Thanks a lot for all the info!!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
nasmall transporter
medline
navan
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
naPick-up truck
Maya Jurt
nasmall lorry / small van
Alexander Schleber (X)
naLight goods vehicle
Jenniclair
na(mini) panel van or light truck or van
Dan McCrosky (X)
nasmall lorry (UK) / light truck or van (US)
Martin Schneekloth (X)
naminivan / light pick-up (U.S.)
Roland Grefer
navan
Mats Wiman


  

Answers


13 mins
small transporter


Explanation:
By all means, GOOGLE was right. Small transporter is the officially used term.

Regards,
medline

medline
Local time: 20:45
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13 mins
van


Explanation:
If it's got dedicated storage space, I'd call it a van. A minivan is more of an oversized family car. Handy for shopping and bringing kids to football practise.

Eivind Lilleskjaeret
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in pair: 65
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15 mins
Pick-up truck


Explanation:
It depends on the model. Pick-up truck is another possibility.

Maya Jurt
Switzerland
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in pair: 545
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46 mins
small lorry / small van


Explanation:
These would be the UK English equivalents.

Also one should remember, that a lorry can be an open motor vehicle, whereas a van is usually closed. In my experience "transporters" are usually closed vehicles.

HTH

Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 2426
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1 hr
Light goods vehicle


Explanation:
Another alternative maybe, then you don't have to worry about whether to call it a van or not

Jenniclair
Local time: 19:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 4
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6 hrs
(mini) panel van or light truck or van


Explanation:


This one is not easy. As Evind mentioned, a Minivan is usually a somewhat oversized or undersized family car, the oversized ones are normally shaped like a teardrop with the small end forward and the undersized ones mostly look like a shoebox with a nose. A pick-up is usually not translated or referred to as a "Pritsche" form of "Kleintransporter".

This site is not a real authority but they use "van" for "Kleintransporter":

http://www.pdcastings.co.uk/pbs/index.shtml

PBS (precision brake disks GmbH) is one of the foremost brake disks manufacturers in the automotive industry. PBS brake disks are available for most models of cars and vans, offering the customer the optimum product at the optimum price.

=

PBS (Präzisions Brems Scheiben GmbH) ist einer der führenden Hersteller von Bremsscheiben für die Automobilindustrie. PBS-Bremsscheiben sind für nahezu alle PKW-Modelle und Kleintransporter erhältlich und bieten dem Kunden das bestmögliche Produkt zum bestmöglichen Preis.

The biggest problem with "van" for "Kleintransporter" is that VW has or better had a model called simply the "Transporter". I have owned a couple and they were just a VW Bus without windows behind the driver's seat. That same model is now called a "Van".

This BBC site uses "VW van" for what I would call a "VW bus", in other words, with windows:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/events/newsnight/newsid_137...

So more confusion.

This less than authoritative site:

http://mars.spaceports.com/~bund/flecktarn_fahrzeuge-heer.ht...

uses the term small cargo lorries, but cannot even spell the plural of lorry:

Kleintransporter {Small cargo lorrys}

A Google English .com search for the phrase "small transporter" only turns up 112 hits, mostly not pertinent.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=100&btnG=Google-Suche...

The same search under .uk yields only nine hits, about half not pertinent.

Because of the limited usage, "small transporter" might not be such a good choice.

An old term, "panel van" still draws over 700 .uk English Google hits and over 3000 .com English Google hits. The problem is that although the term is very clearly self-explanatory, many of the hit sites refer to old-timer vehicles.

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=&num=100&btnG=Google-Suche...

http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=lang_en&safe=o...

Some of the hits were modern enough though, such as this Citroen site:

http://www.avalon-citroen.co.uk/interface/generic01/WebPage....

DaimlerChrysler refers to a "Kastenwagen" as a "panel van" still today.

http://www.mercedes-benz.com/e/ecars/transporter/sprinter/pd...

As does Mazda:

http://www.southamptonmazda.com/s-evan.html

Based on all the above, I think "(mini) panel van" might still be the best choice even today if you know the rear of the vehicle is enclosed, if you do not know this for sure, "light truck" draws 26,000 .com English Google hits and over 200 .uk hits. "light lorry" draws only three hits so just plain "van" might be better for the UK.

HTH

Dan



Dan McCrosky (X)
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 1541
Grading comment
Thanks a lot for all the info!!!
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8 hrs
small lorry (UK) / light truck or van (US)


Explanation:
Van can refer to an automobile that carries small commercial loads as well as a personal vehicle (like a minivan). However, do not use minivan if you are not sure if it refers to a personal (not commercial) vehicle.

Full-time inhouse translator in US

Martin Schneekloth (X)
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 111
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9 hrs
minivan / light pick-up (U.S.)


Explanation:
The answer in part will depend on the appearance of the vehicle. If it is a small an, it'd be a minivan, if it is a small pickup truck, it would be a light pick-up.

Roland Grefer
Local time: 15:45
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 231
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11 hrs
van


Explanation:
if it's closed as you indicate
or
pick-up
if it's open (i.e. a small lorry)


    13 years in Germany + professional experience
Mats Wiman
Sweden
Local time: 20:45
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish
PRO pts in pair: 1498
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