das Versteck, -e
hiding place · hideout
Ein Ort, an dem man sich heimlich vor anderen schützt oder verbirgt.
Definition & meaning
das Versteck means hiding place, hideout, or secret place—a place where someone or something is hidden so that it cannot easily be seen or found.
It can refer to:
- a place where a person hides: Die Kinder suchen ein gutes Versteck. — “The children are looking for a good hiding place.”
- a place where objects are secretly stored: Er hat das Geld in einem Versteck aufbewahrt. — “He kept the money in a hiding place.”
- a hidden location used by criminals, spies, or resistance groups: Die Polizei entdeckte das Versteck. — “The police discovered the hideout.”
The word is also used in the children’s game of hide-and-seek.
Grammar & Word origin
- Gender: neuter
- Singular: das Versteck
- Plural: die Verstecke
- Pronunciation: fer-SHTEK
Versteck is derived from the verb verstecken , meaning “to hide” or “to conceal.” The ending -e forms a noun referring to a place or result associated with the verb.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- der Unterschlupf — a shelter or refuge, often emphasizing protection rather than secrecy.
- der Schlupfwinkel — a secluded or concealed place; it often sounds more literary or secretive.
- das Versteck — the general and most common term for a hiding place.
- das Geheimversteck — a secret hiding place, with extra emphasis on secrecy.
There is no exact single-word antonym for Versteck. Depending on the context, opposites include:
- der offene Platz — an open place with little possibility of hiding.
- die Sichtbarkeit — visibility or the state of being easily seen.
- die Offenheit — openness, especially when something is not concealed.
Common phrases & collocations
- ein Versteck finden — to find a hiding place
- ein Versteck suchen — to look for a hiding place
- ein Versteck entdecken — to discover a hiding place
- ein gutes Versteck — a good hiding place
- ein sicheres Versteck — a safe hiding place
- im Versteck bleiben — to stay hidden
- aus dem Versteck kommen — to come out of hiding
- Verstecken spielen — to play hide-and-seek
Make “Versteck” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Das Kind sucht ein Versteck.noun
The child is looking for a hiding place.
Die Katze fand ihr Versteck.noun
The cat found her hiding place.
Die Verstecke im Wald waren dunkel.noun
The hideouts in the forest were dark.
Wir bauten ein geheimes Versteck im Garten.noun
We built a secret hiding place in the garden.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad