on top of each other / about each other
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on top of each other
Describes the position of two or more things where one is directly on top of the other.
Die Kinder stapelten die Bauklötze übereinander, bis der Turm umfiel.
The children stacked the building blocks on top of each other until the tower fell over.
about each other
Refers to speaking, thinking, or knowing about the other people in a group.
Obwohl sie seit Jahren Kollegen waren, wussten sie fast nichts übereinander.
Although they had been colleagues for years, they knew almost nothing about each other.
The adverb 'übereinander' is made up of the preposition 'über' (over/about) and the reciprocal pronoun 'einander' (each other). This structure helps you understand both meanings: the literal position ('über einander' — over one another) and the figurative meaning ('über einander sprechen' — to talk about each other).
Bitte legt die Papiere nicht einfach übereinander, sondern sortiert sie.
Please don't just put the papers on top of each other; sort them instead.
The context makes it clear which meaning is intended. Verbs that describe a physical action (e.g. 'legen' — to lay/put, 'stapeln' — to stack, 'sitzen' — to sit) point to the spatial position. Verbs of communication or thinking (e.g. 'reden' — to talk, 'lachen' — to laugh, 'wissen' — to know) refer to people.
Die Teller stehen im Schrank übereinander.
The plates are stacked on top of each other in the cupboard.
In the spatial meaning, 'übereinander' is often used with verbs of positioning. A very common phrase is 'die Beine übereinander schlagen' (to cross one's legs).
Im Winter zieht man oft mehrere Schichten Kleidung übereinander an.
In winter, people often wear several layers of clothing on top of each other.
When it is about people, 'übereinander' is often combined with verbs that express social interaction or judgment. Typical phrases are 'übereinander reden' (to talk about each other), 'übereinander lachen' (to laugh about each other), or 'schlecht übereinander denken' (to think badly of each other).
Es ist unhöflich, in Anwesenheit anderer schlecht übereinander zu reden.
It is impolite to speak badly about each other in the presence of others.
on each other / one after another
Aufeinander and übereinander can both describe things stacked directly on top of one another. Aufeinander emphasizes that one thing is lying or standing on the other; übereinander focuses more strongly on the vertical arrangement. With a real stack, both words are therefore often possible, but the perspective is different.
Die drei Kisten stehen genau übereinander und bilden eine senkrechte Reihe.
The three boxes are exactly on top of one another, forming a vertical row.
Die drei Kisten stehen stabil aufeinander.
The three boxes are stacked securely on top of one another.
