Good to Know: The difference between “Technik” and “Technologie” in German

The short answer to the question of how to translate “technology” or “technique” into German is the word “Technik” (f.). It refers to all measures, processes and applications that make knowledge gained from the natural sciences useful for humanity as well as to a particular or specially defined method of doing something (i.e. “technique”). It also refers to technical equipment.

“Wir benutzen die modernste Technik.” – “We use the most modern technology.”
“Sie hat eine besondere Technik erlernt.” – “She’s acquired a special technique.”

The German word “Technologie” (f.), on the other hand, refers to the science of transforming raw materials into finished products using scientific methods, and for this reason is usually used as a component in larger words (e.g. Biotechnologie, Nanotechnologie, etc.). “Technologie” also encompasses all processes involved with acquiring and processing materials.

All that having been said, nowadays, due to the influence of the English language, both terms are often used synonymously in everyday German speech (except in the sense of “technique”, which is always “Technik”).