to cover / tuck in
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to tuck in
To cover someone or oneself with a blanket, sheet, or something similar in order to provide warmth or a feeling of security.
Kannst du das Kind bitte zudecken, bevor du das Zimmer verlässt?
Could you please tuck the child in before you leave the room?
to cover
To cover something completely with something else in order to hide it, protect it, or fill it in.
Er hat das Loch in der Wand mit einem Bild zugedeckt.
He covered the hole in the wall with a picture.
'Zudecken' (to cover/tuck in) is a separable verb. The prefix 'zu-' comes at the end in a main clause. In subordinate clauses and in the infinitive with 'zu', the verb stays together.
Ich decke dich später zu.
I'll tuck you in later.
When you cover a person with a blanket, that person or the corresponding pronoun is in the accusative. The verb can also be used reflexively: 'sich zudecken' (to cover oneself up).
Die Mutter deckt ihr schlafendes Kind zu.
The mother tucks in her sleeping child.
When you cover something, the preposition 'mit' (with) often follows, along with the material or object in the dative. The structure is: etwas (accusative) mit etwas (dative) zudecken.
Sie hat den Fleck auf dem Teppich mit einem kleinen Tisch zugedeckt.
She covered the stain on the carpet with a small table.
to cover / to set
Both words can express giving a person warmth with a blanket. „Zudecken“ usually refers to covering someone completely and is the neutral, usual choice, while „decken“ is also possible but sounds less neutral and is more restricted. In everyday speech, „zudecken“ is therefore generally used.
Die Mutter deckt ihr schlafendes Kind mit einer warmen Decke zu.
The mother tucks her sleeping child in with a warm blanket.
Die Mutter deckt ihr schlafendes Kind mit einer leichten Decke.
The mother covers her sleeping child with a light blanket.
