to camp
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to camp
To spend a vacation or free time in a tent, caravan, or camper van, usually in nature or at a campsite.
Im Sommer fahren wir immer nach Italien, um dort am Meer zu campen.
In the summer, we always go to Italy to camp by the sea.
'Campen' is a loanword from English ('to camp'). It has been fully integrated into the German verb system and is conjugated like a regular German verb.
Wir haben letztes Jahr zum ersten Mal gecampt.
We camped for the first time last year.
The verb is often combined with places or the type of accommodation. Typical phrases are 'am See campen' (to camp by the lake), 'in den Bergen campen' (to camp in the mountains), 'im Zelt campen' (to camp in a tent), or 'auf einem Campingplatz campen' (to camp at a campsite).
Viele Leute campen lieber wild in der Natur als auf einem vollen Campingplatz.
Many people prefer wild camping in nature to camping at a crowded campsite.
'Campen' (to camp) is often used in the construction 'campen gehen' (to go camping) to describe the start of the activity. The perfect tense is formed with 'haben': 'haben gecampt' (have camped).
Am Wochenende gehen wir im Wald campen.
This weekend we are going camping in the forest.
to stay overnight
'übernachten' and 'campen' can both mean that you sleep away from home. The difference is important: 'übernachten' only says that you spend the night somewhere else, for example in a hotel or at friends' place. 'campen' describes a specific type of leisure activity or vacation, usually in a tent, caravan, or camper van. You can stay overnight while camping, but not every overnight stay is camping. So 'übernachten' is more general, while 'campen' only fits this particular type of stay.
Im Sommer campen wir eine Woche am See.
In the summer, we camp by the lake for a week.
Nach der langen Feier übernachte ich bei meiner Schwester.
After the long party, I am staying overnight at my sister's place.