abhängen von
to depend on
To be determined or influenced by something or someone; to rely on something.
EXAMPLE
Ob wir den Ausflug machen, hängt ganz vom Wetter ab.
Whether we go on the trip depends entirely on the weather.
abhängen
to depend / to hang out / to take down
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Meanings
abhängen
to hang out
(Colloquial) To relax and spend time doing nothing in particular, often with friends.
EXAMPLE
Am Wochenende will ich einfach nur mit meinen Freunden im Park abhängen.
At the weekend, I just want to hang out with my friends in the park.
abhängen
to leave behind
(Colloquial) To leave someone behind in a competition or pursuit; to outperform someone.
EXAMPLE
Im letzten Sprint hat die Läuferin ihre Konkurrentin deutlich abgehängt.
In the final sprint, the runner clearly left her competitor behind.
abhängen
to take down
To take down or remove something that has been hung up.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Party müssen wir die ganze Dekoration wieder abhängen.
After the party, we have to take all the decorations down again.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Abhängen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'ab' stands at the end of the sentence or clause.
EXAMPLE
Ich hänge nach der Schule oft mit meinen Freunden ab.
I often hang out with my friends after school.
Fixed preposition
In the meaning of 'angewiesen sein' (to depend on / rely on), 'abhängen' is always used with the preposition 'von' and the dative. A very common structure is 'Es hängt davon ab, ob/wie/wann ...' (It depends on whether/how/when ...).
EXAMPLE
Der Erfolg des Projekts hängt von der guten Zusammenarbeit im Team ab.
The success of the project depends on good teamwork.
Register: colloquial
The meaning 'sich entspannen' (to relax) is colloquial and is used especially by younger people in informal situations. It often appears with the preposition 'mit' (with).
EXAMPLE
Was machst du so? Ich hänge nur ein bisschen auf dem Sofa ab.
What are you up to? I’m just hanging out on the sofa a bit.
Use with accusative
When 'abhängen' means 'hinter sich lassen' (to leave behind), the verb needs an accusative object. You always leave behind 'jemanden' (someone) or 'etwas' (something).
EXAMPLE
Der Radfahrer konnte die Verfolger am letzten Berg abhängen.
The cyclist was able to leave the pursuers behind on the final mountain.
Context clue: literal
This meaning is the literal, physical action. It is used for things that you remove from a hook, a line, or a wall.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir helfen, die Gardinen abzuhängen?
Can you help me take down the curtains?
Compare with
abhängen vs liegen
to lie / be located
An etwas liegen identifies the actual cause of an outcome. Von etwas abhängen, by contrast, describes a factor or condition that determines or influences the outcome. For an established cause, liegen is appropriate; when the outcome can still change, abhängen is appropriate.
abhängen
Ob die Feier stattfindet, hängt vom Wetter ab.
Whether the celebration takes place depends on the weather.
liegen
Dass die Feier ausfällt, liegt am starken Regen.
The celebration is being canceled because of the heavy rain.
In real life
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