anlehnen
to lean
To place or position something or oneself at an angle against a vertical surface for support.
EXAMPLE
Du kannst dein Fahrrad an die Hauswand anlehnen.
You can lean your bicycle against the wall of the house.
anlehnen
to lean / be based on
anlehnen – lehnte an – hat angelehnt
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Meanings
sich anlehnen an
to be based on
To use a model or template as a guide when creating something; to be based on something.
EXAMPLE
Der Film lehnt sich in seiner Handlung eng an den Bestseller-Roman an.
The film's plot is closely based on the bestselling novel.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry anlehnen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | lehne an |
|---|---|
| du | lehnst an |
| er/sie/es | lehnt an |
| wir | lehnen an |
| ihr | lehnt an |
| sie | lehnen an |
Simple past
| ich | lehnte an |
|---|---|
| du | lehntest an |
| er/sie/es | lehnte an |
| wir | lehnten an |
| ihr | lehntet an |
| sie | lehnten an |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe angelehnt |
|---|---|
| du | hast angelehnt |
| er/sie/es | hat angelehnt |
| wir | haben angelehnt |
| ihr | habt angelehnt |
| sie | haben angelehnt |
Commands
| du | lehn an! lehne an! |
|---|---|
| ihr | lehnt an! |
| Sie | lehnen Sie an! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte angelehnt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest angelehnt |
| er/sie/es | hatte angelehnt |
| wir | hatten angelehnt |
| ihr | hattet angelehnt |
| sie | hatten angelehnt |
Future
| ich | werde anlehnen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst anlehnen |
| er/sie/es | wird anlehnen |
| wir | werden anlehnen |
| ihr | werdet anlehnen |
| sie | werden anlehnen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | lehne an |
|---|---|
| du | lehnest an |
| er/sie/es | lehne an |
| wir | lehnen an |
| ihr | lehnet an |
| sie | lehnen an |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | lehnte an |
|---|---|
| du | lehntest an |
| er/sie/es | lehnte an |
| wir | lehnten an |
| ihr | lehntet an |
| sie | lehnten an |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | anlehnen |
|---|---|
| with zu | anzulehnen |
| present participle | anlehnend |
| past participle | angelehnt |
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anlehnen' (to lean) is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' stands at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er lehnte sein Fahrrad an den Zaun an.
He leaned his bicycle against the fence.
Ich war müde, weil ich mich nirgends anlehnen konnte.
I was tired because I couldn't lean against anything anywhere.
Es ist keine gute Idee, sich an die frische Wand anzulehnen.
It is not a good idea to lean against the freshly painted wall.
Context clue
The meaning can be recognized from the object. If it is about concrete, physical things (person, bicycle), the literal meaning is intended. With abstract things (film, theory, novel), the figurative meaning 'to be based on' is intended.
EXAMPLE
Bitte lehne die nasse Jacke nicht an die Tür an.
Please don't lean the wet jacket against the door.
Das neue Gesetz lehnt sich an ein erfolgreiches Modell aus Skandinavien an.
The new law is based on a successful model from Scandinavia.
Preposition 'an'
In the literal meaning, the target that something is leaned against is always indicated with the preposition 'an' and the accusative. The verb can also be used reflexively ('sich anlehnen' — to lean oneself/lean back).
EXAMPLE
Er lehnte sich erschöpft an die Wand.
He leaned exhausted against the wall.
Stell den Besen bitte an die Kellertür.
Please put the broom against the cellar door.
Using as a model
In the figurative meaning, the verb is always used reflexively and with the fixed preposition 'an' (+ accusative): 'sich an etwas anlehnen' (to be based on something). It means that something serves as a model or basis.
EXAMPLE
Das Design des neuen Autos lehnt sich stark an klassische Sportwagen an.
The design of the new car is strongly based on classic sports cars.
Compare with
anlehnen vs basieren
to be based
Basieren auf generally names the basis of a concept. Sich anlehnen an also means that something is based on a model, but it suggests a deliberate and recognizable orientation toward that model's design. Basieren is therefore usually suitable for data or findings, while anlehnen is more appropriate for an adopted model.
anlehnen
Das neue Kurskonzept lehnt sich an das bewährte Modell der Nachbarschule an.
The new course concept is modeled on the tried-and-tested approach used by the neighboring school.
basieren
Das neue Kurskonzept basiert auf den Ergebnissen der Teilnehmerbefragung.
The new course concept is based on the results of the participant survey.
In real life
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