Wettlauf

Wettlauf is a German noun that denotes a race or competition in which participants strive to reach a goal or cover a distance faster than others. The term is formed from Wett- (competition) and Lauf (run), and is commonly used to describe athletic events as well as other forms of contest.

In everyday usage, Wettlauf covers various kinds of races, including track and field events, cycling, motor racing, horse racing, and other timed or distance-based contests. It can also be used in figurative speech to express a race against time or a rapid sequence of events, for example in phrases like “ein Wettlauf gegen die Zeit.” The concept is also found in compounds such as Rüstungswettlauf (arms race) and Weltraum-Wettlauf or Wettlauf ins All, referring to historic or speculative competitions beyond Earth.

Grammatically, Wettlauf is masculine: der Wettlauf; plural die Wettläufe. Related terms include Wettkampf and Wettbewerb, which emphasize the contest aspect rather than the speed itself.

See also: Rennen, Lauf, Wettkampf, Wettbewerb. The term is widely understood in German-speaking contexts and appears in sports journalism, historical discussions of strategic or technological rivalries, and everyday language to describe competitive pressure and urgency.