English–German

“catch someone doing something” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈtapən/

Example

Meine Mutter ertappt mich oft beim Fernsehen.

My mother often catches me watching TV.

Illustration for ertappen (catch someone doing something)

How to say “catch someone doing something” in German

“Catch someone doing something” in German is ertappen.

An observer unexpectedly finds a person in the middle of an act and brings the unnoticed behavior into view.

Full entry for ertappen: usage tips, similar words and word origin

Example sentences with ertappen

Ich ertappte sie gestern beim Lügen.

I caught her lying yesterday.

Tips for using ertappen

  • The reflexive phrase sich bei etwas ertappen means to catch oneself doing something, often with mild self-criticism.

“catch someone doing something” in other languages