Hello everyone,
and welcome back the series that we all thought was over but it it’s not: Prefix Verbs Explained.
Whoop whoooooooop.
Today on the menu
anstehen
And look… I don’t really wanna do it, you don’t really wanna do it. But we’re gonna. Just like Thomas and Maria the other day when they decided to try…
cleaning behind the stove.
Yes, it was on the agenda for a long time. And if you were expecting something lewd – well, we’ll get lewd in the article. Literally :)
So, most of you probably know that stehen means to stand. But what’s more helpful for us is to think of it as the result of stellen.
Because anstehen is the direct result of anstellen.
Now, anstellen actually has about 37 distinct meaning and we’ve talked about all of those 246 meanings in the series “Anstellen – the Meanings” (link below) but luckily for us here, only one matters: the one about waiting in line.
Sich anstellen is can refer to the act of joining the end of a line/queue and anstehen is the result of that, the state of being in line.
- Stell dich schon mal an, ich hol noch Milch.
- Go ahead and join the queue/queue up. I’ll go get milk real quick.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich habe 11 Stunden für die Karte angestanden.
- I waited in line for 11 hours for that ticket.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich hab’ keinen Bock anzustehen.
- I don’t want to wait in line.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Als nächstes steht die Reform des Steuersystems an.
- Next on the agenda is tax reform.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
As you can see in the last example, it’s also used in a metaphorical sense, but that sounds quite formal and it’s more something for the newspapers.
Cool.
Now, waiting in line is definitely part of life, so anstehen is a useful word. But the noun der Anstand might be even better.
The Meaning of “der Anstand”
Does it have something to do with waiting in line? Well, kind of. Jumping the line would be a clear indication for a lack of Anstand. But it doesn’t mean that you have a lack of standing in line. It means you have a lack of decency. Because that’s what Anstand is.
This social decency, that respects conventions and etiquette.
What does that have to do with standing, you wonder? Well, this meaning makes a lot of sense once you know that the German uses stehen in the context of clothes suiting us. Hold on, here’s an example:
- Das T-Shirt steht mir gut.
- The shirt suits me well. (makes me look good)
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
Good, decent behavior certainly suits us well, too, and that’s probably how the meaning came about.
Anstand itself is usually used in contexts where people complain that it’s missing, but there are some really nice compounds with it.
- Hast du keinen Anstand?
- Do you not have any decency?
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- “Ich will heute keinen Alkohol trinken.”
“Ach komm, nimm wenigstens einen Anstandsschluck.“ - “I don’t want to drink alcohol today.”
“Oh come, take a courtesy sip, at least.” - Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Ich habe anstandshalber mit dem Essen gewartet, bis sie von der Toilette zurück war.
- For decency’s sake, I waited to eat until she was back from the restroom.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
But the one you REALLY need to remember is the adjective anständig. Because that has broadened its meaning a bit and includes a more general idea of good, proper.
- Das ist sehr anständig von dir.
- That was very ethical/civilized of you.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Setz dich bitte anständig hin.
- Please sit properly.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Zieh dir bitte anständige Sachen an.
- Please put on proper/decent clothes.
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- “Willst du ein Croissant?”
“Nee, ich brauch was Anständiges.” - “Do you want a croissant?”
“No, I need something real/proper.” - Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
And with an un- before it it can mean un-decent. Or lewd, naughty.
- “Willst du Vanille?”
“Nee, ich brauch heute was unanständiges.“ - “Do you want vanilla?”
“Noo, I need something lewd today” - Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
Did anyone think chocolate? I didn’t … just curious.
Anyways, we’re really close to too much information here, but Prefix Verb veterans among you will know that there’s one more thing we need to talk about… the r-version. Which in case of anstehen is actually a dr-version.
The Meaning of “dranstehen”
You see, the r-version has a notion of motion, and combining that with a verb that is 110% stationary, like stehen, just doesn’t make any sense.
Dranstehen however does make sense, because the dr-version always has a stationary vibe.
Taken literally, dranstehen would be something like “stand at something”. However, in practice it’s only used for the stehen in the sense of to say.
Wait what?!?! Stehen means to say?
Well, yes, German uses stehen in the context of stuff being written someone. You’d say “in der Email steht” (the email says) or “auf dem Zettel steht” (the note says) or “an der Tafel steht“. And the last one brings us right to the meaning of dranstehen. You’d use that if the board is already established in the conversation.
- “Habt ihr Sojamilch?”
“Nee, steht auch draußen dran.” - “Do you have soy milk?”
“No, and it says it outside (on the board).” - Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
- Hier gibt’s echt schöne Kleider, aber ich finde es echt nervig, dass die Preise nicht dranstehen.
- They have really nice dresses here, but I find it really annoying, that it doesn’t say the prices anywhere. (like… on a little sign)
- Practice pronunciation – click once to start recording and again to stop
Some people might actually claim that dranstehen doesn’t even exist and should be dran stehen instead, because it comes from stehen an. Which is a very good, logical reasoning. Except… it doesn’t FEEL right.
Now some people probably scream in agony like “Emanuel, feeling is not a criteria If everybody did as they feel, language would be a mess.”
And I hear that BUT there are areas in language where you have to kind of loosen up the rules a bit to do the language justice. Dran stehen as two words would mean that there’s an emphasis on stehen as if that were relevant by itself. When I talk, dranstehen feels like one unit, just like rausgehen feels like one. And no one would argue that we write that as two words.
Not even Maria. And she argues a LOOOOOOT! I bet she’d even argue that we’re done for today.
So let’s wrap up quick, before she finds out :).
This was our look at the prefix verb anstehen and the two things you should take away are the verb itself, which means waiting in line, and the adjective anständig, which can mean proper, decent.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions just leave me a comment.
I hope you liked it and see you next time.
….
…
… *door opens…
“Emanuel, you gotta mention the verb beanstanden….”
“Oh… Maria… really good idea, but it’s too late. We already finished.”
Further reading:
Sometimes people are queuing but sitting. Is “Steht Ihr auch an?” incorrect here ? Does “Seid ihr in der Schlange?” work as an alternative ?
Ha, interesting question.
I think I would say “Wartet ihr auch?” but “anstehen” would also work. Also the version with “Schlange” though I wouldn’t use that here, personally.
Thanks” One more question, I got taught “stehst du / stehen Sie auch an” as stock phrase when i first moved here.
So its what i learnt but i over time I also question how necessary the “auch” is.
Like, I’ve just arrived so haven’t yet stood anywhere yet- I am wondering where to position myself.
Does it sound bad without the auch?
did you miss the “auch” related question? : )
Ups, yes :).
It sounds completely fine without the “auch”. The only moment that would be weird WITH “auch” is when you arrive and there is exactly one person waiting.
cool thanks. Somehow I thought the “auch” refered to me , not to the other people. Good this is cleared up -makes more sense now…
I’m surprised no one has mentioned a connection with the English word “upstanding”!
I’m on team “naughty” for the “lewd” ice cream selection, for what it’s worth, weighing into this 5-year-old discussion… “naughty” is maybe a little more sexualized for Americans than Brits though.
Oh, you mean “upstanding” as parallel to “anständig”?
Ja genau
For what it’s worth… I feel like “anständig” has more of a “fitting in” vibe while “upstanding” is more about the souveranity and righteousness of citizens.
Mini – Convo
Einhorn 1: Gestand Ich für Diese Rühstung drei JAHRE, Und Sie weigern sich, sie zu mir zu verkaufen
Einhorn 2: Ja. Ich folge den anständigen Marketingtechniken. Sie sind (ganz) unanständig
Einhorn 1: …Ja..Ich Weiß…Es stehe auf meinem Kopf dran
English
Einhorn 1 : I waited two years for this armor and you refuse to sell it to me
Einhorn 2 : Ja. Ibfollow proper marketing techniques. You are (quite) indecent.
Einhorn 1 : of course…. I know…it is on my head
B) what is the difference of dranstehen and stehen auf in sense of “written”
Waited should be “stood in line”
Other than questions, you can shuffle the answers as well. Randomize both questions and answers. Choosing the only answer shuffle option will shuffle answers but the questions will come in the same order to all students. A time limit is another option to minimize cheating. This restricts the quantity of time a student enjoys for each question. The time could vary as per the complexity of the question. It is to be kept in mind that giving excess time will enable students to consult each other. They may also share answers. You can allow multiple attempts on the same question or once only
Uh… what???
Interesting comments about the vanilla ice-cream – I must really have my mind in the gutter because the first thing that came into my head was “vanilla” as a euphemism for ritual, perfunctory, boring, missionary position sex on a Friday night with the lights off. Ugh. Would rather go without. Something more “lewd” is, in my opinion, an acceptable way to insinuate the desire to have more sensual relations than the Perfunctory Friday Night F***. This is not the first time I’ve seen “vanilla ice-cream” used this way. Perhaps it says more about me than about the language, but whaddu I know?
I knew that you’d immediately know what I was going for, for in the gutter is where I dwell as well.
But in defense of vanilla… badly made “cranberry-cucumber-dragonfruit”-sorbet can be a worsexperience than a really well made spoon of vanilla.
Or the best of both worlds… scoop of vanilla with a surprise second flavor in the center.
I actually think vanilla icecream is very underrated and has an unfair bad rep. The constant need for novelty can seem tiresome at times. I’ve also managed to troll people by ordering, knowing they would express some kind of outrage – kind of like how you can wind people up by telling people you like pinapple pizza
Moin Emanuel,
One clue in identifying a native New Yorker is to listen to whether he or she says “on line” when most folks would say “in line.”
“I’ve been standing on line for the bus for hours,” – people been tawking like this, way before the internet.
Sorry I missed the recent get together in Neukölln – sounded like fun – will there be another?
Oh really? That sounds so weird to me :).
Also… tawking :):):).
The get together was… okay. My preparation wasn’t the best, the crowd was a bit too mixed and we didn’t have a good rhythm. So you didn’t really miss much (except me struggling). As of now, I don’t have no concrete plans to do another one, but I’m also not completely ruling it out :)
Looks like a typo. In changing fonts, maybe the computer swallowed the r? “When I talk, danstehen feels like one unit, just like rausgehen feels like one.” As I said, I’m a beginner (I use Google Translator to help me find somewhere to start) but I worked my way through the article. I’m sure your readers know that it should be dranstehen, right? I feel like I’m surfing big waves…
You’re surfing like a pro! “Dranstehen” is right, of course. Take this as a good example of how you can trust your instincts, beginner or not. If something doesn’t make sense to you, then chances are, you’re right :)
Hello, I just found your site when searching for the difference between stark and Kraft. I’m thrilled you include etymology! I will be starting with the Essentials… but first, you requested corrections. On the “Online Course” page, 2nd paragraph, you say “And I promise you… you’ll find a lot of stuff here that is NOT part in any textbook.” That is a tiny mistake… I’m American, so I can’t speak for Brits, but I think you should change the “in” to “of”. Another option would be, change “part” to “found”.
When I first found your blog, I wasn’t sure if your native language was English or German! So my compliments, and my thanks.
I’ve only scanned this entry on anstehen, as it’s too advanced for me but I’d like to try: Diese Internetseite steht mir gut. es ist sehr anständig von Ihnen, es frei zu posten. Danke sehr.
Hi Jane, danke für deinen Kommentar und deine Korrektur. Na klar, part OF any textbook, not IN. It’s not even “in” in German, so I think that was just an editing mistake.
great that you actually tried making a couple of sentences.
– Diese Webseite steht mir gut.
Grammatically, this is perfect. But it’s not idiomatic. This “stehen” is only used for stuff you wear (clothes, glasses and so on). it’s doesn’t work as a general way of saying something suits you (like a date or something).
– Es ist sehr anständig von Ihnen, es frei zu posten.
Also this one is grammatically perfect. Why did you think the article was too advanced again XD? I think your German is just fine!
Still, I have to correct you though… it is free and not free. You can access two articles per week, after that you’ll run into a paywall :).
Hi there! Ich finde es sehr interessant, dass auf Englisch wurden wir oft so sagen: ‘as stated in my email/letter/on this sign’ – as in, the stating part of a statement.
State sounds a lot like steht!
It’s a bit more formal than just saying stuff, but it’s true that people would also use ‘say’ for things written down – it says here… etc.
I just thought it was interesting aural connection, oder? :-)
First time comment – have loved the blog for ages, thank you Emmanuel.
That’s a good Eselsbrücke, indeed :). Danke dir!!
So if you’re standing in line, and it doesn’t seem to be advancing, what’s the most idiomatic way to say “the line’s not moving”?
Good question… I’d either say
– “Die Schlange bewegt sich nicht”
or
– “Es geht nicht vorwärts/voran.”
I would say : “I wanted something more exciting than vanilla ice cream“ . Also, “I stopped eating while she went to the bathroom, out of courtesy to her. “
Love your articles. My brain Needs this kind of explanatory text.
“more exciting” is too broad in my opinion. “unanständig” has by default an undertone of sexual naughty-ness to it. Subtle, but it’s there. “more exciting” doesn’t really have that, at least not automatically.
Like… the German version of the dialogue will NEVER happen on an ice cream stand, while I can totally imagine it with “more exciting”.
But thanks for the suggestion :). It’s always great to flesh out ideas a little better!
HaH~!! It’s all in how you say it: With a wink, and a coy little smile, while twisting a lock of hair around your finger; the intent of “Something a little more exciting“ is abundantly clear.
*wink*
Another great word, thanks Emanuel.
So now with the lewd ice cream. First off, I want some (in the right company of course). As for giving the ice cream seller my order, think I’d go for “dirty” (if you fancy something weird or skanky) or “naughty” (if you’d rather something a bit more extravagant and calorific). Actually there’s loads of words you could use to convey “anything but vanilla”, but probably not “lewd”. As far as I know (and I’ve checked) “lewd” is quite narrow in meaning, limited to describing carnal desires only. If someone asked me for a lewd ice cream I’d probably have to ask my wife’s permission first.
I’m new here, so I don’t know where the lewd ice cream thread started… but I’d say sinful or decadent if a dessert is extra rich. In relation to vanilla, maybe “sexy” instead of lewd. aber ich bin Rentnerin und meine Sprache ist nicht cool. und Vanille ist sexy, wenn das Eis super ist.
found the vanilla reference…
Hahaha… ja Vanille kann sehr sexy sein. “unanständig” geht definitiv in Richtung “stuff you wouldn’t talk about with your parents”
Wait, so you wouldn’t have to ask permission for a naughty ice cream :)?
Seriously though, I was absolutely going for sexual innuendo here. In that context, would “lewd” be accurate? It’s probably a good bit stronger than “unanständig”
When we’re talking “lewd” the innuendo would have to be so unambiguous it almost wouldn’t be innuendo any more, more of an outright suggestion to begin a sexual act. Like, when it comes to ice cream, holding steady eye contact with someone while licking the top of a… I think I’ll stop there. George Michael was arrested in a LA public toilet for “engaging in a lewd act”. “Engaging in a naughty act” would just sound comical.
There are a lot of translations for “unanständig” on dict.cc I see, and unhelpfully they are not listed in order of “outrageousness”. “Obscene” is probably the daddy – everything about the word screams explicit offence. “Naughty” is somewhere near the bottom and does not have a serious feel to it. “Lewd” is near the top though.
‘More cute’, please.
Or more cuterer :)
Yes, please keep cute. Mein mann sagt “cloth clips” instead of clothes pins. I love it.
wunderbar wie immer, E. In English we’d say “I waited to eat…” instead of “I waited with eating….” But your version is as always cuter.
I’ll leave it then, cuty-pie that I am :).
Seriously though, is “waiting with eating” wrong or does it just sound weird?
Completely unidiomatic, for sure… saying “waiting with…” sets you up to say who else was there, so another “-ing” verb is a bit jarring.