anstoßen
to toast
To lightly clink glasses together in order to drink to someone or something; to make a toast.
EXAMPLE
Lasst uns auf das Brautpaar anstoßen!
Let's toast the bride and groom!
anstoßen
to toast / initiate / bump
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Meanings
anstoßen
to initiate
To initiate or set in motion a process, discussion, or change.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung möchte eine Debatte über die Digitalisierung anstoßen.
The government wants to initiate a debate about digitalization.
anstoßen
to bump
To unintentionally touch something or someone lightly or bump against them.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe aus Versehen das Wasserglas angestoßen und es ist umgekippt.
I accidentally bumped the water glass, and it tipped over.
sich anstoßen
to bump oneself
To bump oneself against an object and possibly get slightly hurt in the process.
EXAMPLE
Aua, ich habe mich schon wieder am Tischbein angestoßen!
Ouch, I bumped myself on the table leg again!
anstoßen an
to border on
To border on something spatially; to lie directly next to it.
EXAMPLE
Unser Grundstück stößt direkt an ein Naturschutzgebiet an.
Our property borders directly on a nature reserve.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anstoßen' (to toast/initiate/bump) is a separable verb with the prefix 'an-'. In a main clause, the prefix goes at the end. In subordinate clauses or in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Er stößt eine wichtige Diskussion an.
He initiates an important discussion.
Sentence structure with 'auf'
When drinking to something or someone with glasses, you use the preposition 'auf' (to) followed by the accusative. This structure is firmly connected with this meaning.
EXAMPLE
Wir wollen auf das neue Jahr anstoßen.
We want to toast the new year.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'initiieren' (to initiate), 'anstoßen' is almost always used with abstract nouns. Typical examples are: 'eine Debatte anstoßen' (to initiate a debate), 'eine Reform anstoßen' (to initiate a reform), 'eine Veränderung anstoßen' (to initiate a change), or 'ein Projekt anstoßen' (to initiate a project).
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrer Rede wollte die Politikerin eine neue Klimadebatte anstoßen.
With her speech, the politician wanted to initiate a new climate debate.
Reflexive with dative
When you hurt yourself, the verb is reflexive: 'sich anstoßen' (to bump oneself). The object you bump into is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe mich im Dunkeln an der Türkante angestoßen.
I bumped myself on the edge of the door in the dark.
Sentence structure with 'an'
In the meaning 'angrenzen' (to border on), 'anstoßen' is always used with the preposition 'an' and the accusative. This meaning is rather formal or written.
EXAMPLE
Der Park stößt direkt an unser Firmengelände an.
The park borders directly on our company premises.
Compare with
anstoßen vs trinken
to drink
“Trinken” can mean celebrating a person or event with a drink. “Anstoßen” refers more specifically to the social gesture of lightly clinking glasses and making a toast. Use “trinken” for the consumption and “anstoßen” when the shared celebratory gesture is meant.
anstoßen
Wir stießen mit den Gläsern auf ihren Erfolg an.
We clinked our glasses to her success.
trinken
Wir tranken auf ihren Erfolg und unterhielten uns weiter.
We drank to her success and continued our conversation.
In real life
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