to back up / to dam
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to back up
Describes the situation in which vehicles accumulate in traffic and can no longer move on, or can move only very slowly, creating a traffic jam.
Auf der Autobahn A5 staut sich der Verkehr auf einer Länge von zehn Kilometern.
Traffic is backed up for ten kilometers on the A5 motorway.
to dam
To stop the flow of water, e.g. of a river or stream, with an obstacle such as a dam in order to accumulate it.
Der Biber hat den Bach mit Ästen und Schlamm gestaut.
The beaver dammed the stream with branches and mud.
to build up
In a figurative sense, the accumulation of feelings, work, or other things that are not relieved or dealt with.
Bei ihm hatte sich so viel Wut gestaut, dass er irgendwann explodierte.
So much anger had built up inside him that eventually he exploded.
The verb 'stauen' (to back up / to dam) is closely related to the noun 'der Stau' (traffic jam / buildup). The verb describes the action or process that leads to a 'Stau' (accumulation), whether in traffic or with water.
Wenn sich der Verkehr staut, entsteht ein langer Stau.
When traffic backs up, a long traffic jam forms.
The grammar helps with the meaning. 'Sich stauen' (to back up / to build up, reflexive) is used for traffic and figurative things like feelings or work. 'Etwas stauen' (to dam something, transitive with an accusative object) is used for stopping water.
Der Verkehr staut sich vor der Baustelle.
Traffic is backing up before the construction site.
When it is about traffic, the subject is often 'der Verkehr' (the traffic) or the impersonal 'es' (it). The location is often given with 'auf' (on) and the name of the road or motorway.
Es staut sich mal wieder auf der A8 Richtung München.
Traffic is backed up again on the A8 toward Munich.
In the figurative meaning, 'sich stauen' (to build up) is always used reflexively. Typical subjects are things that can accumulate, such as 'die Arbeit' (the work), 'die Wut' (the anger), 'der Frust' (the frustration), or 'die Post' (the mail).
Die unerledigte Arbeit staute sich auf seinem Schreibtisch.
The unfinished work built up on his desk.
to stop
Here, stoppen means holding up traffic, for example because of an obstacle. Sich stauen, by contrast, describes many vehicles accumulating and being unable to move on, or moving only slowly. Stoppen can therefore be the cause, while sich stauen describes the resulting traffic situation.
Wegen der Baustelle staut sich der Verkehr vor der Brücke.
Because of the construction site, traffic is backed up before the bridge.
Eine Baustelle stoppt den Verkehr vor der Brücke.
A construction site stops traffic before the bridge.
