hochkommen
to come up
Colloquial: To come up to a higher place or location.
EXAMPLE
Kommst du bitte zu mir in den dritten Stock hoch?
Could you please come up to my place on the third floor?
hochkommen
to come up
hochkommen – kam hoch – ist hochgekommen
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Meanings
hochkommen
to get up
Colloquial: To get up from a lying, sitting, or crouched position.
EXAMPLE
Ohne Hilfe kam der alte Mann nicht mehr vom Boden hoch.
The old man could no longer get up from the floor without help.
hochkommen
to come up
Colloquial: To return to consciousness as a memory, thought, or feeling.
EXAMPLE
Beim Anblick des alten Hauses kamen Erinnerungen an ihre Kindheit hoch.
When she saw the old house, memories of her childhood came up.
hochkommen
to come up
Colloquial: To become known or relevant again as a topic, problem, or previously hidden matter.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Prüfung der Unterlagen kamen neue Vorwürfe gegen den Vorstand hoch.
New allegations against the board came up during the review of the documents.
hochkommen
to recover
Colloquial: To recover after an illness or a difficult financial situation and regain strength or prosperity.
EXAMPLE
Nach der schweren Krankheit ist sie nur langsam wieder hochgekommen.
After her serious illness, she recovered only slowly.
hochkommen
to rise
Colloquial: To advance professionally or socially and attain a better position.
EXAMPLE
In dieser Firma ist er vom einfachen Verkäufer bis in die Geschäftsleitung hochgekommen.
At this company, he rose from an ordinary salesperson to the executive management team.
hochkommen
to come back up
Colloquial: To travel back up from the stomach toward the mouth, especially before or during vomiting.
EXAMPLE
Bei der nächsten heftigen Welle kam ihm das Mittagessen wieder hoch.
With the next violent wave, his lunch came back up.
jemandem kommt es hoch
to feel like throwing up
Colloquial: For someone to feel strong disgust or revulsion toward something.
EXAMPLE
Wenn ich diese rassistischen Sprüche höre, kommt es mir hoch.
When I hear these racist remarks, I feel like throwing up.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry hochkommen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | komme hoch |
|---|---|
| du | kommst hoch |
| er/sie/es | kommt hoch |
| wir | kommen hoch |
| ihr | kommt hoch |
| sie | kommen hoch |
Simple past
| ich | kam hoch |
|---|---|
| du | kamst hoch |
| er/sie/es | kam hoch |
| wir | kamen hoch |
| ihr | kamt hoch |
| sie | kamen hoch |
Perfect
with sein
| ich | bin hochgekommen |
|---|---|
| du | bist hochgekommen |
| er/sie/es | ist hochgekommen |
| wir | sind hochgekommen |
| ihr | seid hochgekommen |
| sie | sind hochgekommen |
Commands
| du | komm hoch! komme hoch! |
|---|---|
| ihr | kommt hoch! |
| Sie | kommen Sie hoch! |
Past perfect
| ich | war hochgekommen |
|---|---|
| du | warst hochgekommen |
| er/sie/es | war hochgekommen |
| wir | waren hochgekommen |
| ihr | wart hochgekommen |
| sie | waren hochgekommen |
Future
| ich | werde hochkommen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst hochkommen |
| er/sie/es | wird hochkommen |
| wir | werden hochkommen |
| ihr | werdet hochkommen |
| sie | werden hochkommen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | komme hoch |
|---|---|
| du | kommest hoch |
| er/sie/es | komme hoch |
| wir | kommen hoch |
| ihr | kommet hoch |
| sie | kommen hoch |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | käme hoch |
|---|---|
| du | kämest hoch kämst hoch |
| er/sie/es | käme hoch |
| wir | kämen hoch |
| ihr | kämet hoch kämt hoch |
| sie | kämen hoch |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | hochkommen |
|---|---|
| with zu | hochzukommen |
| present participle | hochkommend |
| past participle | hochgekommen |
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Hochkommen' is a separable verb made up of 'hoch' (up) and 'kommen' (to come). In a main clause, 'hoch' usually appears at the end of the sentence; in a subordinate clause, both parts stay together. With 'zu', 'zu' comes between 'hoch' and 'kommen'.
EXAMPLE
Sie kommt heute Abend noch zu uns hoch.
She's coming up to our place this evening.
Ich weiß nicht, wann er hochkommt.
I don't know when he's coming up.
Es ist schön, wieder hochzukommen.
It's nice to come up again.
Word formation
The verb combines the indication of direction 'hoch' (up) with 'kommen' (to come). This basic idea remains recognizable in its figurative meanings as well: something moves upward or returns to consciousness or comes to the forefront.
EXAMPLE
Nach langer Zeit kam der alte Streit wieder hoch.
After a long time, the old dispute came up again.
Indicating direction
When describing movement to a higher location, information with 'zu' (to), 'in' (into), or 'auf' (onto) is frequently used. The separated prefix 'hoch' appears at the end of the main clause.
EXAMPLE
Komm bitte zu mir hoch, wenn du fertig bist.
Please come up to my place when you're finished.
Typical collocations
When getting up from a low position, 'hochkommen' is often used with phrases such as 'vom Boden' (from the floor), 'aus dem Bett' (out of bed), or 'aus der Hocke' (from a crouch). These additions describe the starting position.
EXAMPLE
Morgens komme ich kaum aus dem Bett hoch.
In the morning, I can barely get out of bed.
Memories and feelings
In this figurative meaning, 'Erinnerungen' (memories), 'Gefühle' (feelings), 'Bilder' (images), or 'Gedanken' (thoughts) are often the subject of 'hochkommen'. The sentence often also states what triggered them.
EXAMPLE
Durch die Musik kamen bei ihr traurige Erinnerungen hoch.
The music brought up sad memories for her.
Problems come to light
When topics or matters become known again, 'Probleme' (problems), 'Vorwürfe' (allegations), 'Fragen' (questions), or 'alte Konflikte' (old conflicts) are often the subject. An indication of time or situation often shows on what occasion they come up.
EXAMPLE
Während der Besprechung kamen mehrere ungelöste Probleme hoch.
Several unresolved problems came up during the meeting.
Recovering
When describing recovery after a crisis, 'hochkommen' is often used with 'wieder' (again) or 'langsam' (slowly). Typical contexts include a serious illness, a personal crisis, or financial difficulties.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Operation brauchte er lange, bis er wieder hochkam.
After the operation, it took him a long time to recover.
Career advancement
When describing professional or social advancement, a phrase with 'in' (into) or 'bis in' (up to) often states the position reached. The starting point is also frequently described with 'von ... bis ...' (from ... to ...).
EXAMPLE
Sie ist in wenigen Jahren bis in die Abteilungsleitung hochgekommen.
In just a few years, she rose to head the department.
Dative of the person
When something travels from the stomach toward the mouth, the affected person is often in the dative. The food or liquid coming back up may be caused by nausea, movement, or an illness.
EXAMPLE
Nach der rasanten Fahrt kam ihm das Frühstück hoch.
After the fast ride, his breakfast came back up.
Fixed expression
In the expression 'jemandem kommt es hoch' (someone feels like throwing up), the affected person is in the dative, and 'es' remains as a fixed element. The expression is often followed by a trigger introduced with 'wenn' (when) or 'bei' (at/when faced with).
EXAMPLE
Bei solchen grausamen Bildern kommt es mir hoch.
Images this gruesome make me feel like throwing up.
In real life
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