to overwinter
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to overwinter
To spend the winter in a sheltered place or in a special dormant state (e.g., hibernation). Usually refers to animals or plants.
Viele Zugvögel fliegen in den Süden, um dort zu überwintern.
Many migratory birds fly south to overwinter there.
to winter
For a person to spend the winter months in another place, usually somewhere warmer and sunnier.
Seit ihrer Pensionierung überwintern meine Großeltern jedes Jahr auf den Kanarischen Inseln.
Since retiring, my grandparents have wintered in the Canary Islands every year.
to overwinter
To store objects, especially frost-sensitive plants or vehicles such as boats, in a safe, sheltered place over the winter.
Wir müssen die Kübelpflanzen vor dem ersten Frost in den Keller bringen, damit sie dort überwintern können.
We have to bring the potted plants into the cellar before the first frost so that they can overwinter there.
'Überwintern' (to overwinter) is an inseparable verb because the prefix 'über-' is unstressed. It remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms, and the past participle is formed without 'ge-'.
Der Igel überwintert in unserem Garten.
The hedgehog overwinters in our garden.
The verb is derived from the noun 'der Winter' (winter). The prefix 'über-' here has the meaning of 'to get through something' or 'to make it through a period of time'. So 'überwintern' means to get through the winter.
Einige Schmetterlinge können als Falter überwintern.
Some butterflies can overwinter as adult butterflies.
The subject of the sentence tells you which meaning is intended. If it is animals or plants, the biological meaning is meant. With people, it is about a long trip; with objects, it is about storage.
Der Igel überwintert im Laubhaufen.
The hedgehog overwinters in the pile of leaves.
The verb 'überwintern' (to overwinter) is very often combined with a prepositional phrase that indicates the location. Typical prepositions are 'in', 'an', or 'auf'.
Die Kraniche überwintern in Südeuropa.
The cranes overwinter in southern Europe.
to store
Both words work when an object remains in a sheltered place during the winter. Einlagern emphasizes putting something away for safe storage, while überwintern emphasizes the period and getting safely through the winter. Einlagern is more suitable when focusing on the storage location, while überwintern is more suitable when focusing on the winter season.
Das Boot überwintert vor dem ersten Frost in einer trockenen Halle.
The boat spends the winter in a dry hangar before the first frost.
Wir lagern das Boot vor dem ersten Frost in einer trockenen Halle ein.
We store the boat in a dry hangar before the first frost.
