anhängen
to hang on
To fasten something to another thing so that it hangs from it.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du den Schlüssel bitte wieder an das Schlüsselbrett anhängen?
Can you please hang the key back on the key board?
anhängen
to attach / pin on
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Meanings
anhängen
to attach
To add something to the end of something else, for example a file to an email or another sentence to a text.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Dokumente als PDF an die E-Mail angehängt.
I attached the documents to the email as a PDF.
jemandem etwas anhängen
to pin something on someone
To falsely blame someone for something or attribute a negative quality to them.
EXAMPLE
Man wollte ihm den Betrug anhängen, obwohl er nichts damit zu tun hatte.
They wanted to pin the fraud on him, even though he had nothing to do with it.
sich anhängen
to tag along
To join a person or group and go along with them, often without having been explicitly invited.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Weg in die Stadt hat sich noch ein Freund von mir an uns angehängt.
On the way into town, another friend of mine tagged along with us.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anhängen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'an-' comes at the end of the sentence. In subordinate clauses and infinitive constructions with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er hängt den neuen Kalender an die Wand an.
He hangs the new calendar on the wall.
Literal and figurative
The verb combines 'an' (on/to) and 'hängen' (to hang). The literal meaning is to hang something up physically. In figurative meanings, you can 'anhängen' blame to someone or 'anhängen' yourself to a group.
EXAMPLE
Sie hängte die Wäsche auf die Leine an.
She hung the laundry on the line.
Digital context
In the meaning 'hinzufügen' (to add), the verb is very commonly used today for digital files. Typical phrases are 'eine Datei anhängen' (to attach a file), 'ein Dokument anhängen' (to attach a document), or 'ein Foto an eine E-Mail anhängen' (to attach a photo to an email).
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Präsentation als Anhang an diese Nachricht angehängt.
I attached the presentation to this message as an attachment.
Dative construction
To express that someone is being falsely blamed, you use the structure: 'jemandem (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) anhängen' (to pin something on someone). The person being accused is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei konnte ihm den Diebstahl nicht anhängen.
The police couldn't pin the theft on him.
Reflexive use
When joining a group, the verb is used reflexively: 'sich anhängen' (to tag along). To say whom you are joining, use the preposition 'an' with the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Weg zur Party haben sich noch zwei Freunde an uns angehängt.
On the way to the party, two more friends tagged along with us.
Compare with
anhängen vs hängen
to hang
Hängen and anhängen can both refer to attaching an object. Hängen highlights placing it in a hanging position. Anhängen, on the other hand, emphasizes connecting it to another object that serves as a support.
anhängen
Nora will den Anhänger an die Kette anhängen.
Nora wants to attach the pendant to the chain.
hängen
Nora will die Kette an den Haken hängen.
Nora wants to hang the chain on the hook.
In real life
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