to mix up / swap
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to mix up
To accidentally confuse two or more things and put them in the wrong place or mistake one for the other.
Ich habe aus Versehen unsere Jacken vertauscht, weil sie genau gleich aussehen.
I accidentally mixed up our jackets because they look exactly the same.
to swap
To intentionally exchange something for something else; to give something and receive something else in return. This meaning is less common than 'tauschen' (to swap/exchange).
Die Kinder vertauschten ihre Sammelkarten auf dem Schulhof.
The children swapped their trading cards in the schoolyard.
The prefix 'ver-' in 'vertauschen' (to mix up / swap) often suggests an accident or mistake. While 'tauschen' (to swap/exchange) is a neutral exchange, 'vertauschen' usually means that you have accidentally mixed something up.
Oh nein, ich habe aus Versehen unsere Regenschirme vertauscht!
Oh no, I accidentally mixed up our umbrellas!
There are two typical sentence patterns: You can either use a plural object ('die Koffer vertauschen' — to mix up the suitcases) or connect two objects with the preposition 'mit' (with): 'meinen Koffer mit deinem vertauschen' (to mix up my suitcase with yours).
Die beiden haben im Restaurant ihre Mäntel vertauscht.
The two of them mixed up their coats at the restaurant.
Things that look very similar are often mixed up. Typical objects are 'Jacken' (jackets), 'Gläser' (glasses), 'Koffer' (suitcases), 'Schlüssel' (keys), or abstract things like 'Namen' (names) and 'Zahlen' (numbers).
Der Redner hat in seiner Präsentation zwei wichtige Zahlen vertauscht.
The speaker mixed up two important numbers in his presentation.
to exchange / swap
Tauschen usually refers to an intentional exchange in which someone gives something and receives something else. Vertauschen, on the other hand, often means that things are accidentally mixed up or assigned incorrectly; it can also be used for an intentional exchange, but this is less common and more marked.
Die beiden Gäste vertauschen versehentlich ihre Plätze, sodass Anna auf dem falschen Stuhl sitzt.
The two guests accidentally switch seats, so Anna ends up in the wrong chair.
Die beiden Gäste tauschen absichtlich ihre Plätze, damit Anna am Fenster sitzt.
The two guests intentionally swap seats so that Anna can sit by the window.
