anzapfen
to tap
To pierce or drill into a barrel or tree so that a liquid can flow out and be collected.
EXAMPLE
Um Kautschuk zu gewinnen, werden die Bäume angezapft.
To obtain rubber, the trees are tapped.
anzapfen
to tap
anzapfen – zapfte an – hat angezapft
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Meanings
anzapfen
to tap
To secretly or illegally use a line, technical connection, or communication system in order to divert something or obtain information.
EXAMPLE
Die Kriminellen zapften die Telefonleitung an.
The criminals tapped the telephone line.
anzapfen
to tap into
To make use of an available source, reserve, or potential in order to gain something from it.
EXAMPLE
Das Unternehmen zapft neue Geldquellen an.
The company is tapping into new sources of funding.
jemanden anzapfen
to tap someone
Colloquially, to repeatedly ask someone for money, information, or help and benefit from them.
EXAMPLE
Er zapft ständig seine Eltern an, wenn ihm das Geld ausgeht.
He is constantly tapping his parents for money when he runs out.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry anzapfen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | zapfe an |
|---|---|
| du | zapfst an |
| er/sie/es | zapft an |
| wir | zapfen an |
| ihr | zapft an |
| sie | zapfen an |
Simple past
| ich | zapfte an |
|---|---|
| du | zapftest an |
| er/sie/es | zapfte an |
| wir | zapften an |
| ihr | zapftet an |
| sie | zapften an |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe angezapft |
|---|---|
| du | hast angezapft |
| er/sie/es | hat angezapft |
| wir | haben angezapft |
| ihr | habt angezapft |
| sie | haben angezapft |
Commands
| du | zapf an! zapfe an! |
|---|---|
| ihr | zapft an! |
| Sie | zapfen Sie an! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte angezapft |
|---|---|
| du | hattest angezapft |
| er/sie/es | hatte angezapft |
| wir | hatten angezapft |
| ihr | hattet angezapft |
| sie | hatten angezapft |
Future
| ich | werde anzapfen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst anzapfen |
| er/sie/es | wird anzapfen |
| wir | werden anzapfen |
| ihr | werdet anzapfen |
| sie | werden anzapfen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | zapfe an |
|---|---|
| du | zapfest an |
| er/sie/es | zapfe an |
| wir | zapfen an |
| ihr | zapfet an |
| sie | zapfen an |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | zapfte an |
|---|---|
| du | zapftest an |
| er/sie/es | zapfte an |
| wir | zapften an |
| ihr | zapftet an |
| sie | zapften an |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | anzapfen |
|---|---|
| with zu | anzuzapfen |
| present participle | anzapfend |
| past participle | angezapft |
Usage tips
Separable verb
“Anzapfen” (to tap) consists of “an” and “zapfen” (to tap) and is separable. In a main clause, “an” comes at the end; in a subordinate clause, the verb remains together. With the infinitive marker “zu”, “zu” comes between “an” and “zapfen”: “anzuzapfen”.
EXAMPLE
Die Firma zapft ihre finanziellen Reserven an.
The company is tapping into its financial reserves.
Die Firma kann weiterarbeiten, weil sie ihre finanziellen Reserven anzapft.
The company can keep operating because it is tapping into its financial reserves.
Die Firma versucht, ihre finanziellen Reserven anzuzapfen.
The company is trying to tap into its financial reserves.
Typical objects
With liquids, the container is often used as the accusative object: “ein Fass anzapfen” (to tap a barrel) or “ein Bierfass anzapfen” (to tap a beer barrel). The liquid does not have to be mentioned explicitly.
EXAMPLE
Zum Beginn des Festes zapfte die Wirtin ein großes Bierfass an.
At the start of the festival, the landlady tapped a large keg of beer.
Technical connections
Typical collocations are “eine Stromleitung anzapfen” (to tap a power line) and “eine Telefonleitung anzapfen” (to tap a telephone line). Words such as “illegal” (illegally), “heimlich” (secretly), or “unerlaubt” (without permission) emphasize that the connection is being used without authorization.
EXAMPLE
Die Bewohner hatten illegal eine Stromleitung angezapft, um das Gebäude mit Strom zu versorgen.
The residents had illegally tapped into a power line to supply the building with electricity.
Financial collocations
When talking about money, “Reserven anzapfen” (to tap reserves), “Ersparnisse anzapfen” (to tap savings), and “Geldquellen anzapfen” (to tap sources of funding) are common expressions. With reserves and savings, “anzapfen” often suggests using money that had previously been set aside.
EXAMPLE
Für die teure Reparatur mussten wir unsere Ersparnisse anzapfen.
We had to tap into our savings to pay for the expensive repair.
In real life
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