to stamp / clock in
Loading your saved state.
to stamp
To apply an imprint, mark, or date to something with a stamp. This is often done for identification, cancellation, or confirmation.
Der Postbeamte stempelte den Brief, bevor er ihn in den Sack legte.
The postal clerk stamped the letter before putting it in the bag.
to clock in/out
Colloquial for recording working time with a time clock. You clock in when arriving and clock out when leaving.
Ich muss morgens um Punkt acht Uhr stempeln, sonst gibt es Ärger.
I have to clock in at exactly eight o'clock in the morning, otherwise there will be trouble.
to label someone as
To attach a negative or simplifying label or judgment to someone; to stereotype someone.
Nur weil er einmal einen Fehler gemacht hat, sollte man ihn nicht gleich als Versager stempeln.
Just because he made one mistake, people shouldn't immediately label him as a failure.
The verb 'stempeln' (to stamp) is derived directly from the noun 'der Stempel' (the stamp). The basic meaning is therefore to perform the action for which you use a stamp.
Für dieses Dokument brauchen Sie einen offiziellen Stempel.
You need an official stamp for this document.
The meaning 'to record working time' is colloquial. People say 'stempeln gehen' (to go clock in/out) or 'Ich muss noch stempeln' (I still have to clock in/out). The separable verbs 'einstempeln' (to clock in, at the start of work) and 'ausstempeln' (to clock out, at the end of work) are also often used.
Ich habe heute Morgen vergessen zu stempeln.
I forgot to clock in this morning.
This figurative meaning follows a fixed pattern: 'jemanden als etwas stempeln' (to label someone as something). The 'als' (as) is very important here and introduces the negative judgment.
Sie wurde von ihren Kollegen schnell als unzuverlässig gestempelt.
She was quickly labeled as unreliable by her colleagues.
In the literal sense, the verb is often combined with things that need to be officially marked. Typical phrases are: 'einen Brief stempeln' (to stamp a letter), 'einen Pass stempeln' (to stamp a passport), or 'ein Ticket stempeln' (to stamp a ticket).
Bei der Grenzkontrolle wurde mein Pass gestempelt.
At border control, my passport was stamped.
