English–German

“find one's bearings” in German

German

Pronunciation

IPA/oʁiɛnˈtiːʁən/

Example

Er orientiert sich an der Karte.

He is using the map to find his bearings.

Illustration for orientieren (find one's bearings)

How to say “find one's bearings” in German

“Find one's bearings” in German is orientieren.

A person uses a frame of reference to make sense of surroundings, facts, or a new situation.

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

Example sentences with orientieren

Nach dem Umzug musste sie sich neu orientieren.

After the move, she had to reorient herself.

Tips for using orientieren

  • Sich neu orientieren often means changing one's professional or personal direction rather than simply locating oneself again.

“find one's bearings” in other languages