anstecken
to infect
To transmit an illness to another person. Often also used reflexively when you become ill yourself.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich bei meinem Kollegen mit einer Erkältung angesteckt.
I caught a cold from my colleague.
anstecken
to infect / pin on / set fire to
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Meanings
anstecken
to infect
To transmit a mood, feeling, or behavior to others so that they take it on.
EXAMPLE
Ihre Begeisterung war so groß, dass sie alle anderen damit angesteckt hat.
Her enthusiasm was so great that she infected everyone else with it.
anstecken
to pin on
To attach something to something else with a needle, pin, or similar pointed object.
EXAMPLE
Er steckte sich die Namenskarte an sein Hemd.
He pinned the name tag to his shirt.
anstecken
to set fire to
To set something on fire; to ignite.
EXAMPLE
Der Feuerteufel hat mehrere Scheunen in der Umgebung angesteckt.
The arsonist set fire to several barns in the area.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anstecken' is a separable verb. The prefix 'an-' separates from the verb in the main clause and stands at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er steckt seine Kollegen mit seiner guten Laune an.
He infects his colleagues with his good mood.
Context clue
The exact meaning of 'anstecken' becomes clear from the object. If it is an illness (flu), a feeling (laughter), an object (brooch), or something flammable (house), you know which meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Sie hat sich eine Namenskarte angesteckt.
She pinned on a name tag.
Sentence structure with illness
A distinction is made between 'jemanden anstecken' (to infect someone, transitive) and 'sich anstecken' (to get infected, reflexive). The source of infection is named with 'bei' + dative, and the illness with 'mit' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Steck mich bloß nicht mit deiner Erkältung an!
Just don't infect me with your cold!
Contagious feelings
This figurative meaning is often used for positive feelings and behaviors. Typical combinations are 'mit guter Laune anstecken' (to infect with a good mood), 'mit Begeisterung anstecken' (to infect with enthusiasm), or 'mit seinem Lachen anstecken' (to infect with one's laughter).
EXAMPLE
Ihre positive Energie steckt einfach jeden an.
Her positive energy simply infects everyone.
Reflexive with dative
When you attach something to yourself, the reflexive dative construction is often used: 'sich (dative) etwas (accusative) anstecken' (to pin something on oneself). The dative shows to whom the object is attached.
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Meeting steckte er sich schnell sein Namensschild an.
Before the meeting, he quickly pinned on his name badge.
Compare with
anstecken vs übertragen
to transmit / transfer
Both words can express that a disease passes from one living being to another. With „anstecken,“ the affected person is usually the focus, while with „übertragen,“ the disease or pathogen is more often the focus; the person is often introduced with „auf.“ Choose „anstecken“ when you want to say who becomes ill, and „übertragen“ when you want to emphasize the process.
anstecken
Der kranke Junge hat seine Schwester angesteckt.
The sick boy infected his sister.
übertragen
Die Mücken können den Krankheitserreger auf Menschen übertragen.
Mosquitoes can transmit the pathogen to humans.
In real life
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