to stamp / clock in
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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.
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.
to shape / mint
'prägen' and 'stempeln' can both mean that a mark is put onto a surface by pressure. Even so, they are not the same. 'stempeln' is used when you put a date, mark, or confirmation on paper or a document with a stamp. 'prägen' is used more when a pattern or writing is pressed into a hard surface, for example into metal. The risk of confusion comes from the fact that both processes use pressure. In practice: you stamp documents; you mint coins or medals.
Am Eingang stempelt die Mitarbeiterin das Datum auf das Formular.
At the entrance, the employee stamps the date on the form.
Die Firma lässt ihr Logo in die Metallplatte prägen.
The company has its logo embossed into the metal plate.