verb
einkehren
stop by · stop
Definition & meaning
The verb einkehren generally has two primary meanings:
- To stop for a break: It refers to entering a place, typically an inn, a restaurant, or a cafe, during a journey or an outing in order to rest and consume food or drinks.
- To enter (figurative): It describes the process of a feeling, a state of mind, or a condition (such as peace, silence, or clarity) taking hold or settling within a person or a place. For example, one might say that "peace has returned" to a house.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- It is a separable verb (trennbares Verb). In a main clause, the prefix "ein-" moves to the end of the sentence (e.g., "Wir kehren in das Gasthaus ein").
- It is conjugated with the auxiliary verb "sein" because it describes a change of place or state.
Origin: The word is composed of the prefix "ein-" (in/into) and the verb "kehren" (to turn/to sweep). Historically, it is related to the act of turning into a courtyard or a stopping point while traveling.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- rasten (to rest)
- anhalten (to stop)
- sich niederlassen (to settle down)
- einkehren lassen (used when referring to the arrival of a feeling, like "letting peace settle in")
Antonyms:
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Examples
Ich kehre in meinem Lieblingsrestaurant ein.verb
I stop by at my favorite restaurant.
Nach der Wanderung kehrten die Freunde in einer Hütte ein.verb
After the hike, the friends stopped at a hut.
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