5

In a downloaded set of vocabulary flashcards, I found "Unterrichtsbuch" given as the translation for "textbook". Online English-German dictionaries seem to prefer "Lehrbuch" for this, and in fact "Unterrichtsbuch" seems very uncommon: the only reference work I've found it in is the old Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm dictionary. However, I do find it in online texts and corpora, for example in this 2015 Spiegel article.

Is there any difference in meaning between these two terms, or can I regard "Unterrichtsbuch" as an exact but uncommon synonym for "Lehrbuch"?

Improve this question

3 Answers 3

Reset to default
7

There might be a difference in meaning, since "Unterrichtsbuch" seems to be designated for actual classes in a school and "Lehrbuch" seems to be a more generic word. E.g. a "Lehrbuch" could be a book, meant to support a teacher, or it could be a book, in which you could study on your own, outside of any school environment.

Still, in the end, for me (native speaker) there is no real difference. Usually the context dictates, what kind of book you are looking at.

Improve this answer
3
  • 8
    I second @BenSower on his answer, but as a South German native, I can't recall anyone ever calling it a "Unterrichtsbuch". When school books were concerned, we usually just called them "Schulbücher" (lit. school books). So there might be regional differences, too.
    – S22h
    Commented Jan 25, 2016 at 11:17
  • Im Rheinland war es auch Schulbuch.
    – Robert
    Commented Jan 26, 2016 at 17:08
  • 1
    I'd only use "Lehrbuch" in the phrase "wie aus dem Lehrbuch", i.e., "exactly as described in the book", to indicate something was done just how it's supposed to be done.
    – Robert
    Commented Jan 26, 2016 at 17:10
2

"Unterrichtsbuch" is not in popular use, but it can always be created as a compound word of course. There are no limits to compound words in german, literally. You can consider it an exact synonym, yes.

The most common word is probably "Schulbuch" but "Lehrbuch" is a perfectly fine, if a little bit more formal alternative.

Improve this answer
2
  • Am I right in thinking that "Schulbuch" is restricted to textbooks for school (and maybe for university?), and you'd have to use "Lehrbuch" or something else for e.g. a textbook aimed at professionals?
    – Pont
    Commented Jan 26, 2016 at 19:33
  • @Pont: "Schulbuch" would not be used for books used in unversity teaching. "Lehrbuch" might be possible there, but at least in the part of German academia I got in touch with, a "text book" was actually a pretty rare occurrence to have any role in any class, so I never came across a commonly used, set term for it.
    – O. R. Mapper
    Commented Sep 21, 2023 at 12:07
1

You can also use "kursbuch" for books which are specifically choosed for teaching in courses wheather in school, institute or college. For example I am studying germany in termic courses using schritte kursbuch oder "sicher" oder "Menschen" till level B1. After this level our books changed to Aspekte which are more generic books which you can study by your own and on the cover it's been written "lehrbuch" However all these books are Unterrichtsbuch aiming educational purposes.

Improve this answer

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.