01
bergauf
uphill
Describes movement or direction up a mountain or hill; upward on an incline.
example
Die letzte Etappe der Wanderung führte steil bergauf.
The last stage of the hike went steeply uphill.
bergauf
uphill
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word composition
The word is made up of 'Berg' (mountain) and 'auf' (up/on). So it literally describes a movement 'up a mountain', which makes the meaning very clear.
EXAMPLE
Wir müssen noch etwa einen Kilometer bergauf gehen.
We still have to walk uphill for about one kilometer.
Sentence position
As an adverb, 'bergauf' (uphill) usually stands at the end of a sentence or clause and describes the direction of an action. But it can also stand alone as an answer to a 'Wohin?' (where to?) question.
EXAMPLE
Die Straße führt hier steil bergauf.
The road goes steeply uphill here.
Context clue
You can almost always recognize the figurative meaning by the fixed expression 'es geht bergauf' (things are improving). The subject is 'es' or an abstract concept such as 'die Wirtschaft' (the economy) or 'meine Karriere' (my career).
EXAMPLE
Nach der Krise geht es mit der Wirtschaft langsam wieder bergauf.
After the crisis, the economy is slowly improving again.
Typical collocations
In the literal meaning, 'bergauf' (uphill) is often combined with verbs of movement. Typical examples are 'bergauf gehen' (to walk uphill), 'bergauf fahren' (to drive/ride uphill), 'bergauf steigen' (to climb uphill), and 'bergauf radeln' (to cycle uphill).
EXAMPLE
Mit dem E-Bike kann man viel leichter bergauf fahren.
With an e-bike, you can ride uphill much more easily.
Compare with
bergauf vs hinauf
up
'hinauf' and 'bergauf' can both describe upward movement. 'hinauf' is more general and fits stairs, ladders, floors, hills, or other higher places. 'bergauf' fits especially when an incline is involved, for example on a road, a path, or a mountain. Learners may confuse the words because both mean upward. If a path or terrain is really rising, 'bergauf' sounds very natural. In other situations, 'hinauf' is often more precise.
bergauf
Beim Wandern wird Paul schnell müde, weil der Weg lange bergauf geht.
While hiking, Paul quickly gets tired because the path goes uphill for a long time.
hinauf
Der Hausmeister trägt die Kiste die Treppe hinauf.
The caretaker carries the box up the stairs.
In real life
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