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unterbringen
/ˈʔʊntɐˌbʁɪŋən/
accommodate
Können Sie uns für die Nacht unterbringen?
Can you accommodate us for the night?
general
to accommodate someone in a place to sleep or stay temporarily
Das Hotel kann 200 Gäste unterbringen.
The hotel can accommodate 200 guests.
Wir müssen die Flüchtlinge in Schulen unterbringen.
We have to accommodate the refugees in schools.
Commonly used with people as direct object and a place (e.g., hotel, school) as the location.
general
to put something in a suitable place for storage or organization
Er brachte seine Sachen im Schrank unter.
He put his things away in the closet.
Often used with objects as direct object and a container (e.g., closet, drawer) as the location.
Collocations
jemanden unterbringento accommodate someoneetwas unterbringento put something awayin einem Hotel unterbringento put up in a hotel
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Separable verb
Remember that 'unterbringen' is a separable verb. In main clauses, the prefix 'unter-' moves to the end of the sentence: 'Er bringt die Gäste im Hotel unter.'
Gold Rule
Direct object
The verb always requires a direct object (either a person or thing) that is being accommodated or stored.
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'underbrengen', from Old High German 'untarbringan', composed of 'unter-' (under, among) and 'bringen' (to bring). The sense of 'to accommodate' developed from the idea of bringing someone under a roof or into a space.
Usage Notes
The verb is separable: 'unterbringen' in infinitive, 'bringt unter' in present tense, 'brachte unter' in preterite, 'hat untergebracht' in perfect tense. It is often used in contexts involving temporary housing, such as hotels, shelters, or emergency accommodations.
Word Breakdown
unter-
prefix indicating 'under', 'among', or 'into a space'
prefixbringen
to bring
rootDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch