verb

anlegen

create · dock · put on

Es bedeutet, etwas zu beginnen, zu erstellen oder zu investieren, zum Beispiel Geld sparen, etwas aufbauen oder Kleidung anziehen.

Definition & meaning

The verb anlegen is a highly versatile German word with several distinct meanings depending on the context:

To dock or moor (nautical): Used when a ship or boat arrives at a quay, pier, or dock.
To invest (financial): Used when placing money into accounts, stocks, or other assets for future profit.
To create or establish: Used when starting something new, such as a garden, a file, a database, or a profile.
To put on (clothing/accessories): Used when applying or placing something onto the body, such as a bandage, a ring, or a piece of equipment.
To aim: Used when pointing a weapon or an instrument (like a camera) at a target.
To provoke/challenge: Used in the reflexive form "sich mit jemandem anlegen" to mean getting into a conflict or starting a fight with someone.

Grammar & Word origin

The word is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). In sentences, the prefix "an-" is detached and placed at the end of the clause in main sentences (e.g., "Ich lege mein Geld an").

Origin: It is composed of the prefix "an-" (at, on, to) and the verb "legen" (to lay, to place).
Core sense: The combination implies placing something against or onto a surface, or assigning it to a specific spot.