01
sich anziehen
to get dressed
To put clothing on one's own body.
example
Ich muss mich noch schnell anziehen, bevor die Gäste kommen.
I still need to get dressed quickly before the guests arrive.
anziehen
to put on / attract
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Separable verb
'Anziehen' is a separable verb. In a main clause, the prefix 'an-' goes at the end of the sentence. In a subordinate clause or in the infinitive, the verb stays together.
EXAMPLE
Ich ziehe mir schnell eine Jacke an.
I quickly put on a jacket.
Word structure
The verb consists of 'an' and 'ziehen' (to pull). The literal meaning 'to pull something toward oneself' or 'to pull something onto the body' is still recognizable in many meanings, for example when putting on clothes or tightening a screw.
EXAMPLE
Er zog den Knoten mit aller Kraft an.
He tightened the knot with all his strength.
Sentence structure: sich vs. jemandem
Pay attention to the difference in sentence structure: 'sich anziehen' (to get dressed) means that you put clothes on yourself. 'Jemandem etwas anziehen' (to put something on someone) means that you help another person get dressed, and it requires a dative object (jemandem) and an accusative object (etwas).
EXAMPLE
Er muss sich für die Party noch schick anziehen.
He still needs to dress smartly for the party.
Sentence structure with dative
When you name a specific item of clothing that you are putting on yourself, you use a dative construction: the reflexive pronoun is in the dative ('mir', 'dir', 'sich') and the item of clothing is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Ich ziehe mir einen warmen Pullover an.
I put on a warm sweater.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'anlocken' (to attract/lure), 'anziehen' is often combined with abstract things such as 'Aufmerksamkeit' (attention), 'Interesse' (interest), or 'Kritik' (criticism). It can also be used for groups of people such as 'Touristen' (tourists) or 'Investoren' (investors).
EXAMPLE
Das Festival zieht jedes Jahr Tausende von Besuchern an.
The festival attracts thousands of visitors every year.
Context: business
The meaning 'steigen' (to rise) or 'sich erhöhen' (to increase) is very often used in business and financial contexts. Typical subjects in these sentences are 'die Preise' (prices), 'die Zinsen' (interest rates), 'die Nachfrage' (demand), or 'der Markt' (the market).
EXAMPLE
Die Nachfrage nach Elektroautos hat stark angezogen.
Demand for electric cars has increased sharply.
Compare with
anziehen vs tragen
to wear / carry
'tragen' and 'anziehen' are easy to confuse because both have to do with clothing. 'anziehen' describes the action: you take an item of clothing and put it on your body. 'tragen' describes the state afterward: you have the item of clothing on your body. So in the morning you put on a jacket, and then you wear it outside. If you are helping another person, you can also say: 'Ich ziehe dem Kind die Jacke an' (I put the jacket on the child). For what someone currently has on their body, 'tragen' is correct.
anziehen
Vor dem Spaziergang zieht sich Max eine warme Jacke an.
Before the walk, Max quickly puts on a warm jacket.
tragen
Im Restaurant trägt Maria ein blaues Kleid.
Maria is wearing a blue dress in the restaurant.
In real life
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