senkrecht
vertical
Standing at a 90-degree angle to a horizontal line or surface; vertical.
EXAMPLE
Die Felswand fällt fast senkrecht ins Tal ab.
The rock face drops almost vertically into the valley.
senkrecht
vertical
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
senkrecht starten
to take off
An idiom that describes a very fast and successful start to a career.
EXAMPLE
Nach ihrem Uni-Abschluss ist sie in der neuen Firma direkt senkrecht gestartet.
After graduating from university, she immediately took off at the new company.
Usage tips
Word structure
The word is derived from 'senken' (to lower something) and 'recht' (in the sense of 'straight'). It describes the direction in which a weight on a string, a plumb bob, falls — that is, straight down.
EXAMPLE
Ein Lot hängt immer genau senkrecht.
A plumb line always hangs exactly vertically.
Adjective and adverb
'Senkrecht' (vertical/vertically) can stand before a noun as an adjective or function as an adverb describing a movement or position. The form of the word does not change in this use.
EXAMPLE
Zeichne bitte eine senkrechte Linie auf das Papier.
Please draw a vertical line on the paper.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'senkrecht starten' (to take off) is used figuratively for a person who begins an extraordinarily fast and successful career.
EXAMPLE
Mit ihrer innovativen Idee ist die junge Unternehmerin sofort senkrecht gestartet.
With her innovative idea, the young entrepreneur took off immediately.
Compare with
senkrecht vs quer
across / transverse
Quer describes a direction in relation to the lengthwise direction of an object; the angle can be right or acute. Senkrecht, on the other hand, refers to an exact 90-degree angle to a horizontal line or surface. A vertical line running across something can therefore be described with either word, but they emphasize different aspects.
senkrecht
Eine rote Linie verläuft senkrecht zur waagerechten Unterkante des länglichen Schildes.
A red line runs perpendicular to the horizontal bottom edge of the elongated sign.
quer
Eine rote Linie läuft leicht schräg quer über das längliche Schild.
A red line runs slightly diagonally across the elongated sign.
In real life
Loading video examples...