to dwell / wreak havoc
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to live in squalor
To live under very simple, poor, or makeshift conditions. The word often has a negative or derogatory connotation.
Die obdachlose Familie musste den Winter über in einer verlassenen Fabrikhalle hausen.
The homeless family had to spend the winter living in squalor in an abandoned factory hall.
to wreak havoc
To rage or act wildly in a destructive, reckless, or uncontrolled way. Often used in the phrase 'schlimm hausen' (to wreak terrible havoc).
Die Vandalen haben in der Schule furchtbar gehaust.
The vandals wreaked terrible havoc in the school.
to dwell
Describes the place where animals stay or live, often in a wild or inaccessible place.
In den alten Ruinen hausen Eulen und Fledermäuse.
Owls and bats dwell in the old ruins.
The verb 'hausen' is derived directly from the noun 'das Haus' (house). While 'Haus' is neutral, the verb 'hausen' has developed a special, often negative meaning today.
Man konnte kaum glauben, dass in dieser baufälligen Hütte Menschen hausten.
It was hard to believe that people were living in squalor in this dilapidated hut.
The verb 'hausen' is almost always used with an indication of place introduced by a preposition. Typical prepositions are 'in' (in), 'auf' (on), or 'unter' (under).
Die Mäuse hausen auf dem Dachboden.
The mice dwell in the attic.
When 'hausen' is used for people, it has a strongly negative connotation. It implies that someone is living under very poor, miserable, or uncivilized conditions.
Nach dem Erdbeben mussten viele Familien in Zelten hausen.
After the earthquake, many families had to live in squalor in tents.
In the meaning of 'wüten' (to rage) or 'sich austoben' (to let loose), 'hausen' is often combined with adverbs such as 'schlimm' (badly), 'übel' (nasty), or 'fürchterlich' (terribly). The phrase 'schlimm hausen' means to cause great disorder or destruction.
Die Einbrecher haben im ganzen Haus schlimm gehaust.
The burglars wreaked terrible havoc throughout the whole house.
When the subject of the sentence is an animal, 'hausen' is often more neutral and simply means 'leben' (to live) or 'nisten' (to nest). The negative connotation is usually not present here.
In diesem alten Baum haust eine ganze Kolonie von Fledermäusen.
A whole colony of bats dwells in this old tree.
to live
Wohnen neutrally states that someone has their home in a place, even when the conditions are not ideal. Hausen, by contrast, highlights very poor or makeshift living conditions and often sounds derogatory. It is appropriate when this negative evaluation is important.
Seit Monaten haust die Familie ohne Heizung in einem feuchten Keller.
The family has been living in a damp basement without heating for months.
Während der Renovierung wohnt die Familie vorübergehend im Keller.
The family is temporarily living in the basement during the renovation.
