01
nageln
to nail
To fasten something with one or more nails.
example
Er hat das Brett mit drei langen Stahlnägeln an der Wand festgenagelt.
He nailed the board to the wall with three long steel nails.
nageln
to nail / screw
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Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'nageln' (to nail) is derived directly from the noun 'der Nagel' (the nail). So it literally describes the action you perform with a nail: fastening something.
EXAMPLE
Er suchte einen Hammer, um das Schild an den Baum zu nageln.
He looked for a hammer to nail the sign to the tree.
Context clue
This word has a neutral, literal meaning (m01) and two very colloquial meanings (m02, m03). Whether it is about fastening something with nails or something else only becomes clear from the context. Be careful when using the colloquial meanings.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir helfen, das Regal an der Wand festzunageln?
Can you help me nail the shelf to the wall?
Sentence structure and use
In the literal meaning, German often states what is nailed where. The construction is typically: 'etwas an/auf etwas (Akkusativ) nageln' (to nail something to/onto something).
EXAMPLE
Er nagelte das Plakat direkt an die Holzwand.
He nailed the poster directly to the wooden wall.
Register note
In this meaning, 'nageln' (to screw) is a very colloquial expression and is often perceived as vulgar. It should definitely be avoided in formal or polite conversations.
EXAMPLE
In seiner Erzählung benutzte er eine sehr direkte, vulgäre Sprache.
In his story, he used very direct, vulgar language.
Typical collocations
In the colloquial meaning 'überführen' (to prove someone's guilt), the verb is often used in the context of crime or rule violations. Typically, 'der Täter' (the perpetrator), 'der Verdächtige' (the suspect), or 'der Betrüger' (the fraudster) is 'genagelt' (nailed).
EXAMPLE
Mit den neuen Beweismitteln konnte die Polizei den Dieb endlich nageln.
With the new evidence, the police were finally able to nail the thief.
Compare with
nageln vs ficken
to fuck
'ficken' and 'nageln' can both be used vulgarly for sexual intercourse. Both words are very direct and can quickly sound offensive or disrespectful. 'ficken' is especially crude and is very often heard as an insult or in coarse language. 'nageln' also sounds colloquial and often vulgar, but depending on the context it can also have a completely different, normal meaning: fastening something with nails. In polite conversations, you should avoid both words for the sexual meaning.
nageln
In dieser Serie reden die Figuren sehr derb und benutzen „nageln“ für Sex.
In this series, the characters speak very crudely and use 'nageln' to mean sex.
ficken
Im Streit hat er ein sehr vulgäres Wort wie „ficken“ benutzt.
During the argument, he used a very vulgar word like 'ficken'.
In real life
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