German word

aufeinander

Pronunciation

IPA/aʊ̯faɪ̯ˈnandɐ/

Meaning

  • adverbon top of each other

Example

Die Hemden liegen aufeinander im Schrank.

The shirts are lying on top of each other in the closet.

Illustration for aufeinander (on top of each other)

More examples

Die Teller sind aufeinander gestapelt.

The plates are stacked on top of each other.

Core concept

Separate things or events are stacked closely, with one directly following or resting on another.

Common phrases

  • aufeinander liegen

    lie on top of each other

  • aufeinander gestapelt

    stacked on top of each other

  • aufeinander folgen

    follow one another

Similar words

übereinander: With things piled directly on top of one another.
nacheinander: One event after another in chronological order.
hintereinander: Lined up with each item directly behind the preceding one.
nebeneinander: Placed next to one another in a row.

Definition in German

so, dass mehrere Vorgänge dicht aufeinanderfolgen.

Word origin

The adverb combines auf, meaning 'on', with einander, meaning 'each other', extending a spatial relation to close succession.

Usage tips

  • In time expressions, aufeinander often appears with folgen as in aufeinanderfolgen, whose prefix is separable in finite clauses.

Opposites

Related words

  • aufeinanderfolgendconsecutiveadjective
  • aufeinanderfolgenfollow one anotherverb

Word lists with this word