to envelop
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to envelop
To wrap, cover, or surround someone or something completely. It can be used literally (with a blanket) or figuratively (in fog, silence).
Dichter Nebel hüllte die gesamte Küste in ein graues Tuch.
Thick fog enveloped the entire coast in a gray veil.
to remain silent
A fixed expression meaning to deliberately stay silent and not comment on a topic.
Auf die Vorwürfe angesprochen, hüllte sich der Minister in Schweigen.
When confronted with the accusations, the minister remained silent.
The verb 'hüllen' (to envelop) is related to the noun 'die Hülle' (cover/case). A 'Hülle' is a protective or concealing layer, such as a phone case or a pillowcase.
Die Raupe spinnt sich eine Hülle, bevor sie zum Schmetterling wird.
The caterpillar spins itself a casing before it becomes a butterfly.
The verb 'hüllen' (to envelop) is almost always used with the preposition 'in' + accusative. The structure is: someone/something envelops someone/something in something.
Sie hüllte das frierende Kind in eine warme Decke.
She wrapped the freezing child in a warm blanket.
'Hüllen' (to envelop) is a rather elevated and vivid word. You find it more often in literature or poetic language than in everyday conversation.
Der Künstler hüllte seine Skulptur bis zur Enthüllung in ein Tuch.
The artist covered his sculpture with a cloth until the unveiling.
The expression 'sich in Schweigen hüllen' (to remain silent) is a fixed unit. It is reflexive ('sich hüllen') and means that a person deliberately says nothing about a topic.
Der Politiker hüllte sich zu den Gerüchten in Schweigen.
The politician remained silent about the rumors.
to pack / wrap
Einpacken and hüllen can both express covering an object. Einpacken is the usual choice for a gift and refers to wrapping it for a specific purpose; hüllen merely emphasizes completely surrounding it and sounds less usual in this context.
Für die feierliche Übergabe hüllte sie das Geschenk vollständig in weiches Seidenpapier.
For the formal presentation, she completely enveloped the gift in soft tissue paper.
Vor der Feier packte sie das Geschenk sorgfältig in buntes Papier ein.
Before the celebration, she carefully wrapped the gift in colorful paper.
