a long piece of furniture with or without a backrest on which several people sit side by side
Pl. Bänke
Common phrases
auf der Bank sitzento sit on the bench
Synonyms
Sitzbankbench
Wir setzen uns auf die Bank im Park und essen ein Eis.
We sit down on the bench in the park and eat ice cream.
Früher saßen die Gäste auf einer Bank vor dem Haus.
In the past, guests used to sit on a bench in front of the house.
2bank, financial institution
a business that holds customers' money, manages accounts, and grants loans
Pl. Banken
Common phrases
die Bank überfallento hold up a bank
die Bank ausraubento rob a bank
systemrelevante Bankensystemically important banks
Filiale der Bankbranch of the bank
Synonyms
Geldinstitutfinancial institution
Kreditinstitutcredit institution
Ich muss heute zur Bank gehen und Geld abheben.
I have to go to the bank today and withdraw money.
Die Bank hat mir einen Kredit für das Auto gegeben.
The bank gave me a loan for the car.
3bench, substitutes' bench, dugout
in sports, the area at the edge of the playing field where substitute players and coaches sit
Pl. Bänke
Common phrases
auf der Bank sitzento be on the bench
Synonyms
Ersatzbanksubstitutes' bench
Auswechselbanksubstitutes' bench
Der Stürmer musste das ganze Spiel auf der Bank sitzen.
The striker had to sit on the bench the entire match.
Der Trainer holte einen jungen Spieler von der Bank.
The coach brought a young player off the bench.
4bank, house
in gambling, the operator that takes in bets and pays out winnings
Pl. Banken
Beim Roulette gewinnt am Ende meistens die Bank.
In roulette, the bank usually wins in the end.
5counter, stall, market stallselten
a sales counter in a shop or at a market, for example for meat or fish
Pl. Bänke
Synonyms
Ladentischcounter
Thekecounter
Die Frauen warteten vor der Bank des Fleischers.
The women were waiting in front of the butcher's counter.
6bank, bed, shoal, reeffachsprachlich
a flat layer of rock or a deposit of sand, mud, or shells in a river or ocean
Pl. Bänke
Das Schiff lief auf eine Sandbank auf.
The ship ran aground on a sandbank.
Im Meer wächst eine Bank aus Korallen.
A bank of coral is growing in the sea.
This word has two different meanings with different plural forms. In everyday life, it usually refers to a park bench or a financial institution. The meanings from geology, hydrology, and gambling are found mainly in technical texts.
die Bank, pl. Bänke (seat) or Banken (financial institution)
⚠Use Bänke as the plural for benches to sit on, and Banken for financial institutions.