German word

unterstehen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˌʊntɐˈʃteːən/

Meaning

  • verbreport to

Example

Die Abteilung untersteht dem Ministerium.

The department reports to the ministry.

Illustration for unterstehen (report to)

More examples

Das Personal untersteht dem Tarifvertrag.

The staff is subject to the collective agreement.

Core concept

A department stands beneath a higher authority in an organizational chain, with instructions flowing downward.

Common phrases

  • untersteht dem Tarifvertrag

    is subject to the collective agreement

  • untersteht der nationalen Gesetzgebung

    is subject to national legislation

Similar words

gehören zu: Being included within a particular group or organization.
angehören: Being formally affiliated with a group or organization.
unterliegen: Being under the influence or control of a power, rule, or condition.

Definition in German

In einem hierarchischen Verhältnis unten stehen und gegenüber einer übergeordneten Instanz weisungs- oder kontrollpflichtig sein.

Word origin

Unterstehen is a Germanic compound of unter, meaning "under," and stehen, meaning "stand," whose spatial sense developed into hierarchical dependence.

Usage tips

  • The superior authority appears in the dative, as in Die Abteilung untersteht dem Ministerium.

Other meanings

  • submit toverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word