in Deckung gehen
/ʔɪn ˈdɛkʊŋ ˈɡeːən/word by word
To take cover in German is to say in Deckung gehen.
The phrase in Deckung gehen is used in contexts involving physical protection from danger, such as military combat or a sudden storm.
Meaning: Translations (verb)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of in (into), Deckung (cover/protection) and gehen (to go).
Which one should you use?
In an emergency or combat situation, the phrase is often shortened to the single imperative command Deckung! for "Cover!"
How does it change in a sentence?
The perfect tense is formed using the auxiliary verb sein (to be) because gehen is a verb of motion, resulting in in Deckung gegangen sein for "has taken cover".
How do you pronounce it?
/ʔɪn ˈdɛkʊŋ ˈɡeːən/
Did you know?
- In card games like Bridge, Deckung is used to describe the act of 'covering' a trick by playing a higher card than your opponent.
- The word Deckung can also refer to a 'lid' or 'cover' for a container, sharing the same root as the verb decken meaning 'to cover a table'.
- While the present form gehen comes from a root meaning 'to leave', the past participle gegangen is derived from a different root meaning 'to walk'.
Examples in context
- Wir müssen in Deckung gehen.We need to take cover.This sentence demonstrates how to use in Deckung gehen to express a necessity to take cover.Tatoeba #10742948 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10742919 by CK
- Schnell, wir müssen in Deckung gehen!Quick, we must take cover!
Example conversation
Lukas and Laura are playing a game of paintball.
- LukasLaura, wir müssen in Deckung gehen!Laura, we have to take cover!
- LauraWo ist die nächste Mauer?Where is the nearest wall?
- LukasDort hinter dem Baum!There behind the tree!
- LauraIch bin schon fast da.I am almost there.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (in, Deckung, gehen) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries gehen, in, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
