to join / get around to / be added
Loading your saved state.
to join
To join an already existing group of people or an ongoing event; to arrive later and join in.
Wir gehen schon mal vor ins Restaurant, du kannst ja später dazukommen.
We'll go ahead to the restaurant; you can join us later.
to get around to
To find the time or opportunity to carry out a specific activity. This meaning is very often used in a negated form.
Ich wollte dich gestern anrufen, bin aber leider nicht mehr dazu gekommen.
I wanted to call you yesterday, but unfortunately I didn't get around to it.
to be added
To be added to something already existing or to arise in addition. It is often used to describe unexpected or additional factors, problems, or tasks.
Zum schlechten Wetter kam noch dazu, dass der Zug eine Stunde Verspätung hatte.
Added to the bad weather was the fact that the train was delayed by an hour.
'Dazukommen' is a separable verb. The prefix 'dazu-' goes to the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Die Party war schon im Gang, als ich dazukam.
The party was already underway when I joined.
The word consists of the adverb 'dazu' (toward/to something or someone) and the verb 'kommen' (to come). This structure helps you understand the basic meaning of adding something or joining in.
Zuerst waren wir nur zu zweit, aber dann kamen immer mehr Leute dazu.
At first there were only two of us, but then more and more people joined.
The meaning 'to find time' is almost always used in the construction 'dazu kommen, etwas zu tun' (to get around to doing something). The word 'dazu' refers to the activity in the infinitive clause. Most of the time, this expression is negated.
Ich wollte gestern aufräumen, bin aber nicht dazu gekommen.
I wanted to clean up yesterday, but I didn't get around to it.
When additional circumstances or problems are described, 'dazukommen' (to be added) is often combined with the word 'noch' (also/still). A typical sentence structure is: 'Dazu kam noch, dass ...' (On top of that, ...).
Die Aufgabe war schwierig. Dazu kam noch, dass ich nur wenig Zeit hatte.
The task was difficult. On top of that, I had very little time.
to push / bump / come across
Zu einer Gruppe stoßen and dazukommen can both mean that someone joins people who are already there. Zustoßen emphasizes joining the group, while dazukommen focuses more on the additional or later arrival. In many everyday situations, both are possible.
Am Bahnhof kam Nina etwas später zu unserer bereits versammelten Reisegruppe dazu.
At the train station, Nina joined our travel group, which had already assembled, a little later.
Am Bahnhof stieß Nina zu unserer bereits versammelten Reisegruppe.
At the train station, Nina joined our travel group, which had already assembled.
