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behausen
/bəˈhaʊzən/
to house
Er behaust seine Sammlung seltener Bücher in einem alten Schrank.
He houses his collection of rare books in an old cabinet.
formal
to provide living space or storage for something/someone
Das Museum behaust eine Ausstellung über mittelalterliche Kunst.
The museum houses an exhibition on medieval art.
Der Dachboden behaust noch viele alte Möbel.
The attic still houses many old pieces of furniture.
Often used in the context of buildings, collections, or storage spaces. Can imply temporary or permanent accommodation.
Collocations
etwas behausento house somethingin etwas behaust seinto be housed in something
Synonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'bewohnen'
'Bewohnen' means 'to inhabit' or 'to live in', while 'behausen' implies providing space for something rather than living there yourself. Example: 'Er bewohnt ein Haus' (He lives in a house) vs. 'Das Haus behaust seine Sammlung' (The house houses his collection).
Word Origin
From Middle High German 'behusen', combining the prefix 'be-' (indicating completion or intensification) with 'Haus' (house). The verb evolved from the literal sense of 'to provide a house for' to a more general sense of 'to accommodate' or 'to store'.
Usage Notes
Primarily used in formal or technical contexts, such as museums, archives, or storage facilities. Less common in everyday speech compared to synonyms like 'unterbringen'.
Word Breakdown
be-
intensifying prefix
prefixHaus
house
root-en
verb infinitive suffix
suffixDeutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch