German word

ertappen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈtapən/

Meaning

  • verbcatch someone doing something

Example

Meine Mutter ertappt mich oft beim Fernsehen.

My mother often catches me watching TV.

Illustration for ertappen (catch someone doing something)

More examples

Ich ertappte sie gestern beim Lügen.

I caught her lying yesterday.

Core concept

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

Common phrases

  • jemanden ertappen beim Lügen

    catch someone lying

  • in flagranti ertappen

    catch someone in the act

Similar words

erwischen: Catch someone in the act, often before they can get away.
sich ertappen: Notice oneself doing something, often with mild self-criticism.
bemerken: Become aware of an event, change, or detail.

Definition in German

etwas oder jemanden plötzlich beim Ausführen einer Handlung entdecken; bemerken, dass etwas gerade geschieht

Word origin

German inherited ertappen from Middle High German, where it was built from er- and tappen 'to catch or grasp', preserving a sense of sudden capture.

Usage tips

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

Other meanings

  • catch red-handedverb
  • spotverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Ertappungcatching someone in the actnoun
  • ertapptcaughtadjective

Word lists with this word