01
gedeckt
set
Refers to a table that has been prepared for a meal, with dishes, cutlery, and glasses.
example
Als die Gäste kamen, war der Tisch schon festlich gedeckt.
When the guests arrived, the table was already festively set.
gedeckt
set / muted / covered
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 06
Usage tips
Word family
'Gedeckt' (covered/set/muted) is the past participle of the verb 'decken' (to cover / to set the table). All meanings of 'gedeckt' come from the basic meaning of 'to cover something with something' or 'to secure something.'
EXAMPLE
Die Mutter deckt ihr schlafendes Kind mit einer Decke zu.
The mother covers her sleeping child with a blanket.
Context clue
You can always recognize the exact meaning of 'gedeckt' (covered/set/muted) from the noun it describes. A 'gedeckter Tisch' (set table) is something different from 'gedeckte Farben' (muted colors) or 'gedeckte Kosten' (covered costs).
EXAMPLE
Der Himmel ist gedeckt, es wird wohl bald regnen.
The sky is overcast; it will probably rain soon.
Active and passive
The state 'der Tisch ist gedeckt' (the table is set) is the result of the action 'den Tisch decken' (to set the table). This connection between an active sentence and a description of a state is very typical.
EXAMPLE
Wer hilft mir, den Tisch für das Abendessen zu decken?
Who will help me set the table for dinner?
Typical collocation
The combination 'gedeckte Farben' (muted colors) is a fixed collocation. It describes unobtrusive, non-bright shades such as gray, beige, navy blue, or olive green.
EXAMPLE
Im Herbst trage ich gerne Pullover in gedeckten Farben.
In autumn, I like wearing sweaters in muted colors.
Sentence structure and usage
When costs are 'gedeckt' (covered), the source of financing is often introduced with the preposition 'durch' (by/through). So the structure is: costs are covered 'durch' (by) something.
EXAMPLE
Der Schaden am Auto war zum Glück komplett durch die Vollkaskoversicherung gedeckt.
Fortunately, the damage to the car was completely covered by the comprehensive insurance.
Sentence structure and usage
When a roof is 'gedeckt' (roofed/covered), the material used is named with the preposition 'mit' (with). The structure is: Das Dach ist 'mit' etwas gedeckt (The roof is covered with something).
EXAMPLE
Das Haus ist traditionell mit roten Ziegeln gedeckt.
The house is traditionally roofed with red tiles.
Compare with
gedeckt vs klar
clear
'klar' and 'gedeckt' can form opposites when talking about the sky. A clear sky seems open and transparent; visibility is good and there are hardly any clouds. An overcast sky, by contrast, is gray and completely covered with clouds. So 'klar' fits bright, open weather, while 'gedeckt' is more likely to describe a dull, cloudy sky.
gedeckt
Am Nachmittag bleibt der Himmel gedeckt, deshalb nehmen wir Jacken mit.
In the afternoon, the sky stays overcast, so we take jackets with us.
klar
Am Morgen ist der Himmel klar, und man kann die Berge sehen.
In the morning, the sky is clear, and you can see the mountains.
In real life
Loading video examples...