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improvisieren

to improvise (in speech or performance)

verb im-pro-vi-ZEER-en Rare
Communication Speech

Origin: from Italian improvvisare

Usage Note

Improvisieren covers both unplanned speech and musical/theatrical improvisation. Frei improvisieren — to improvise freely. A speaker who loses their notes might improvisieren. The ability is valued (Improvisationstalent) in performance and business contexts.

Examples

"Da er seine Notizen vergessen hatte, musste er die Rede improvisieren."

Natural Translation

Since he had forgotten his notes, he had to improvise the speech.

Literal Translation

Since he his notes forgotten had, had he the speech to improvise.

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