German word

bedecken

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈdɛkən/

Meaning

  • verbcover

Example

Der Nebel bedeckt die Stadt.

The fog covers the city.

Illustration for bedecken (cover)

More examples

Der Frost bedeckt morgens die Felder.

The frost covers the fields in the morning.

Core concept

A layer lies across a surface, either hiding what is beneath it or simply covering it.

Common phrases

  • mit Ruß bedecken

    cover with soot

  • die Felder bedecken

    cover the fields

  • das Dach bedecken

    cover the roof

Similar words

zudecken: Cover a person or object from above with a cloth or blanket.
decken: Cover a surface by placing something over it.

Definition in German

etwas mit einer Schicht bedecken; auch als Zustand gebraucht in Ausdrücken wie 'bedeckt sein'.

Word origin

The verb combines the prefix be- with decken, meaning 'to cover', and forms a transitive verb for putting a covering over something.

Usage tips

  • For a resulting state, German commonly uses 'bedeckt sein', while 'mit Schnee bedeckt' takes the covering material after mit in the dative.

Other meanings

  • concealverb

Opposites

  • entblößenexposeverb
  • freilegenexposeverb

Related words

  • Bedeckungcoveringnoun
  • bedeckendcoveringadjective

Word lists with this word