to camouflage / disguise
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to camouflage
To visually change something or someone so that it is not recognizable, or only difficult to recognize, in its surroundings; to camouflage something.
Die Soldaten tarnten ihre Zelte mit Ästen und Blättern.
The soldiers camouflaged their tents with branches and leaves.
The verb 'tarnen' (to camouflage/disguise) is used in two main patterns. You can say 'etwas tarnen' (to camouflage something) transitively or 'sich tarnen' (to camouflage/disguise oneself) reflexively. The reflexive form is used both for hiding in one's surroundings and for hiding one's own identity.
Das Chamäleon kann sich perfekt tarnen.
The chameleon can camouflage itself perfectly.
When it is about visual camouflage, the preposition 'mit' (with) is often used to name the camouflage material. Typical objects are vehicles, buildings, or even people.
Der Fotograf tarnte sein Zelt mit einem speziellen Netz.
The photographer camouflaged his tent with a special net.
To express that someone is hiding their identity, the fixed structure 'sich als jemand/etwas tarnen' (to disguise oneself as someone/something) is used. The new, false identity follows after the preposition 'als' (as).
Der Polizist tarnte sich als Obdachloser, um die Drogenszene zu beobachten.
The police officer disguised himself as a homeless person in order to observe the drug scene.
to hide
'verstecken' and 'tarnen' both have to do with something not being easily seen or recognized. 'verstecken' means that you put something or yourself in a place where others are not supposed to find it. You can also hide feelings or information. 'tarnen' means that something is externally adapted so that it does not stand out in its surroundings, or that someone hides their true intention. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with concealing something. The simple difference is: with 'Verstecken' (hiding), something is gone or hidden; with 'Tarnen' (camouflaging / disguising), it is often still there, but looks different or inconspicuous.
Für das Spiel im Wald haben wir die Hütte mit Zweigen getarnt.
For the game in the woods, we camouflaged the hut with branches.
Ich verstecke den Schlüssel unter dem Blumentopf, weil meine Schwester später kommt.
I hide the key under the flowerpot because my sister is coming later.