to reproduce / propagate
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to reproduce
To produce offspring; to multiply. This refers to living beings such as animals, plants, and humans.
Viele Fische kehren zum Laichen an den Ort zurück, an dem sie sich selbst fortgepflanzt haben.
Many fish return to spawn at the place where they themselves reproduced.
to propagate
To spread out or travel onward. This is often used for physical phenomena such as waves, sound, or light.
Schallwellen pflanzen sich in der Luft mit einer Geschwindigkeit von etwa 343 Metern pro Sekunde fort.
Sound waves propagate through air at a speed of about 343 meters per second.
to spread
In a figurative sense: to spread and be passed on. This often refers to ideas, rumors, or traditions.
In der kleinen Stadt pflanzte sich das Gerücht wie ein Lauffeuer fort.
In the small town, the rumor spread like wildfire.
'Fortpflanzen' (to reproduce / propagate) is a separable verb with the prefix 'fort-'. In a main clause, the prefix goes at the end. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Diese Pflanzenart pflanzt sich sehr schnell fort.
This plant species reproduces very quickly.
This verb is always used reflexively with 'sich' in all its meanings. The reflexive pronoun must be adapted to the person: 'ich pflanze mich fort' (I reproduce), 'du pflanzt dich fort' (you reproduce), etc.
Wie pflanzen sich Quallen fort?
How do jellyfish reproduce?
The context makes the meaning clear: If it is about living beings (animals, plants), it means 'sich vermehren' (to multiply/reproduce). If it is about physics (sound, light), it means 'sich ausbreiten' (to spread/propagate). If it is about information (rumors, ideas), it means 'sich verbreiten' (to spread).
Bakterien pflanzen sich durch Zellteilung fort.
Bacteria reproduce through cell division.
In the biological meaning, 'sich fortpflanzen' (to reproduce) is often combined with adverbs that describe the manner or success of reproduction. Common phrases are 'sich schnell fortpflanzen' (to reproduce quickly), 'sich erfolgreich fortpflanzen' (to reproduce successfully), or 'sich ungeschlechtlich fortpflanzen' (to reproduce asexually).
Kaninchen sind dafür bekannt, dass sie sich sehr schnell fortpflanzen.
Rabbits are known for reproducing very quickly.
to reproduce
sich reproduzieren and sich fortpflanzen can both mean that living things produce offspring. sich reproduzieren usually sounds more technical. sich fortpflanzen is the more general and neutral term, for example when talking about animals, plants, or people without a particularly scientific tone.
Die Lehrerin erklärt, wie sich diese Art unter günstigen Bedingungen fortpflanzt.
The teacher explains how this species reproduces under favorable conditions.
Der Fachbericht beschreibt, wie sich diese Art unter günstigen Bedingungen reproduziert.
The technical report describes how this species reproduces under favorable conditions.
