orten
to locate
To determine the exact location or position of a person, vehicle, or object.
EXAMPLE
Die Polizei konnte das vermisste Handy orten.
The police were able to locate the missing cell phone.
orten
to locate
orten – ortete – hat geortet
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
orten
to locate
To determine the direction or origin of a signal, sound, or radiation.
EXAMPLE
Die Techniker konnten das Funksignal schnell orten.
The technicians were able to quickly locate the radio signal.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry orten, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | orte |
|---|---|
| du | ortest |
| er/sie/es | ortet |
| wir | orten |
| ihr | ortet |
| sie | orten |
Simple past
| ich | ortete |
|---|---|
| du | ortetest |
| er/sie/es | ortete |
| wir | orteten |
| ihr | ortetet |
| sie | orteten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe geortet |
|---|---|
| du | hast geortet |
| er/sie/es | hat geortet |
| wir | haben geortet |
| ihr | habt geortet |
| sie | haben geortet |
Commands
| du | orte! ort! |
|---|---|
| ihr | ortet! |
| Sie | orten Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte geortet |
|---|---|
| du | hattest geortet |
| er/sie/es | hatte geortet |
| wir | hatten geortet |
| ihr | hattet geortet |
| sie | hatten geortet |
Future
| ich | werde orten |
|---|---|
| du | wirst orten |
| er/sie/es | wird orten |
| wir | werden orten |
| ihr | werdet orten |
| sie | werden orten |
Subjunctive I
| ich | orte |
|---|---|
| du | ortest |
| er/sie/es | orte |
| wir | orten |
| ihr | ortet |
| sie | orten |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | ortete |
|---|---|
| du | ortetest |
| er/sie/es | ortete |
| wir | orteten |
| ihr | ortetet |
| sie | orteten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | orten |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu orten |
| present participle | ortend |
| past participle | geortet |
Usage tips
Word family
'Orten' (to locate) belongs to the word family of 'Ort' (place) and therefore describes determining a specific place or position. This connection helps you remember the verb's basic idea.
EXAMPLE
Die Rettungskräfte konnten den Wanderer noch rechtzeitig orten.
The rescue workers were still able to locate the hiker in time.
Accusative object
'Orten' (to locate) is normally used with an accusative object: The person, device, vehicle, or signal is what is located. The verb is usually used with a specific target whose position is to be determined.
EXAMPLE
Die App kann das gestohlene Fahrrad orten.
The app can locate the stolen bicycle.
Context clue
The type of accusative object often indicates the meaning: With people, vehicles, or objects, the focus is on their location; with signals, sounds, or radiation, it is on their origin or direction.
EXAMPLE
Per GPS lässt sich jedes Fahrzeug der Firma orten.
Every vehicle belonging to the company can be located using GPS.
Das U-Boot ortete die Geräusche eines fremden Schiffes.
The submarine located the sounds of a foreign ship.
In real life
Loading video examples...