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Working with a secret identity or on a covert mission in order to gather information or solve a crime. Usually used for investigators or journalists.
Der Polizist arbeitete als undercover Ermittler in der Drogenszene.
The police officer worked as an undercover investigator in the drug scene.
'Undercover' is a word borrowed directly from English. In German, it is used with exactly the same meaning for covert investigations or operations.
Der Journalist recherchierte undercover für seine Reportage.
The journalist researched undercover for his report.
As an adjective, 'undercover' is usually not declined in German and comes after the noun or verb. When it comes before a noun, it often forms a compound word, such as 'der Undercover-Einsatz' (the undercover operation).
Der Agent war undercover im Einsatz.
The agent was on assignment undercover.
Common combinations are 'undercover ermitteln' (to investigate undercover), 'undercover arbeiten' (to work undercover), as well as the nouns 'Undercover-Agent' (undercover agent), 'Undercover-Ermittler' (undercover investigator), and 'Undercover-Einsatz' (undercover operation).
Die Polizei setzte einen Undercover-Ermittler auf den Fall an.
The police assigned an undercover investigator to the case.
hidden
„Versteckt“ can describe an action or information that is not shown openly. „Undercover“, on the other hand, describes a person working with a secret identity on a covert mission. Use „versteckt“ for things that are not openly visible, and „undercover“ especially for investigators or journalists doing this kind of work.
Die Journalistin arbeitete undercover, um Informationen über den Fall zu sammeln.
The journalist worked undercover to gather information about the case.
Die Journalistin hielt ihre Recherche zunächst versteckt, um keine Aufmerksamkeit zu erregen.
The journalist initially kept her research hidden so as not to attract attention.
