überspringen
to skip
To intentionally leave something out, not work on it, or not pay attention to it.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe das langweilige Kapitel im Buch einfach übersprungen.
I simply skipped the boring chapter in the book.
überspringen
to skip / jump over / spread
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Meanings
überspringen
to jump over
To move over an obstacle with a jump.
EXAMPLE
Das Pferd kann mühelos einen zwei Meter breiten Graben überspringen.
The horse can effortlessly jump over a ditch two meters wide.
überspringen
to spread
To pass from one place, person, or object to another. Often used for fire, sparks, diseases, or feelings.
EXAMPLE
Die gute Stimmung ist schnell auf alle Gäste übergesprungen.
The good mood quickly spread to all the guests.
Usage tips
Separable or inseparable?
This verb is a rare case: it can be separable or inseparable, and the meaning changes as a result. Inseparable, it means 'etwas auslassen' (to leave something out / skip something) (meaning 1). Separable, it means 'über etwas springen' (to jump over something) (meaning 2) or 'sich ausbreiten' (to spread) (meaning 3).
EXAMPLE
Ich überspringe die Werbung am Anfang des Videos.
I skip the ad at the beginning of the video.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'auslassen' (to leave out / skip), the verb is often combined with things that come in a sequence: 'eine Seite' (a page), 'eine Frage' (a question), 'eine Aufgabe' (a task), or 'eine Mahlzeit überspringen' (to skip a meal).
EXAMPLE
Wenn du die Antwort nicht weißt, überspringe die Frage und mach später weiter.
If you don't know the answer, skip the question and continue later.
Sentence structure with 'auf'
When something passes to something else, such as a feeling, fire, or disease, the separable form is used with the preposition 'auf' + accusative. The target to which it spreads is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Die Flammen sprangen schnell auf das Nachbarhaus über.
The flames quickly spread to the neighboring house.
Compare with
überspringen vs springen
to jump
Both words describe moving over an obstacle. With springen, the obstacle usually follows über in the accusative, while überspringen takes the obstacle directly as an accusative object. Both forms are idiomatic: You jump over the hurdle or jump over the hurdle using überspringen.
überspringen
Der Läufer überspringt die niedrige Hürde.
The runner jumps over the low hurdle.
springen
Der Läufer springt über die niedrige Hürde.
The runner jumps over the low hurdle.
In real life
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