to pave
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to pave
To cover a surface such as a street, path, or square with stones (paving stones) in order to make it solid and suitable for walking or driving on.
Die Gemeinde lässt den alten Marktplatz neu pflastern.
The municipality is having the old market square repaved.
to be paved
Figuratively, to completely and densely cover a surface or path with something. This is often used in the expression 'jemandes Weg ist mit etwas gepflastert' (someone's path is paved with something) to describe obstacles or defining features.
Sein Weg zum Erfolg war mit zahlreichen Opfern gepflastert.
His path to success was paved with numerous sacrifices.
The verb 'pflastern' (to pave) is derived from the noun 'das Pflaster' (pavement/paving), which here means 'Pflasterstein' (paving stone) or 'Straßenbelag' (road surface). So it describes the activity of covering ground with paving stones.
Früher wurden viele alte Gassen mit Kopfsteinpflaster gepflastert.
In the past, many old alleys were paved with cobblestones.
You can recognize the literal meaning from concrete places like 'Straße' (street), 'Weg' (path), or 'Platz' (square). The figurative meaning is almost always used in the passive form 'ist mit etwas gepflastert' (is paved with something) and with abstract nouns like 'Erfolg' (success), 'Schwierigkeiten' (difficulties), or 'Leichen' (corpses).
Die Einfahrt zum Haus wurde neu gepflastert.
The driveway to the house was repaved.
In the literal meaning, the thing that is being paved is in the accusative. The material is also often named with the preposition 'mit' (with) and the dative.
Die Bauarbeiter pflastern den Gehweg mit neuen Steinen.
The construction workers are paving the sidewalk with new stones.
The figurative meaning is used almost exclusively in the fixed expression 'jemandes Weg ist mit etwas gepflastert' (someone's path is paved with something). This construction describes which circumstances or sacrifices accompany a life path or process.
Der Weg in den Krieg ist oft mit guten Absichten gepflastert.
The road to war is often paved with good intentions.
to book / prove / top
Belegen and pflastern can both mean covering a surface. Here, belegen is mainly used when food is put on bread or rolls, while pflastern refers to covering a path or square with paving stones. Choose the word according to the material and purpose of the surface.
Die Arbeiter pflastern den Weg zur Terrasse mit grauen Steinen.
The workers are paving the path to the terrace with gray stones.
Für das Abendessen belegt sie die Brote mit Käse und Tomaten.
For dinner, she tops the bread with cheese and tomatoes.
