leg dich hin
In German, "go lay down" is translated as leg dich hin.
This phrase is used as a command or suggestion for someone to lie on a bed or surface to rest or sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase leg dich hin literally translates to "lay yourself down" because it uses the reflexive pronoun dich (yourself).
Which one should you use?
Leg dich hin is an imperative command, whereas du legst dich hin is a statement that you are currently lying down.
How does it change in a sentence?
To give the command to a group of people you know well (the informal "you plural"), use legt euch hin. If you are speaking to a stranger or someone in a formal setting, you should use the formal imperative legen Sie sich hin instead of leg dich hin.
Did you know?
- The word hin in leg dich hin is a cognate of the English word 'hence'. While 'hence' now means 'from this place', hin describes movement away from the speaker toward a destination.
- If you were telling someone to lie down on a surface that is far away from you, you might switch hin for her, using leg dich her to indicate the movement is toward your own location.
- In German, there is a strict distinction between legen (to lay something down) and liegen (to be lying down). Using leg dich hin implies the active movement of positioning yourself, whereas lieg hin would be grammatically incorrect in this context.
Examples in context
- Wenn Sie müde sind, gehen Sie bitte hinlegen.If you're tired, please go lay down.
- Ich bin müde, deshalb lege ich mich hin.I'm tired, so I'm going to lay down.
- Du siehst müde aus. Leg dich hin.You look tired. Go lay down.
- Du siehst müde aus, leg dich hin.You look tired, go lay down.
- Leg dich hin und schlaf ein.Go lay down and fall asleep.
Example conversation
Hannah is looking after Felix, who has a headache.
- HannahFelix, du hast Fieber.Felix, you have a fever.
- FelixJa, mein Kopf tut weh.Yes, my head hurts.
- HannahLeg dich hin und ruh dich aus.Go lay down and rest.
- FelixDanke, Hannah. Ich mache das.Thanks, Hannah. I will do that.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries dich, hin, CC BY-SA 4.0.
