umdekorieren
To redecorate
حرفيًا: to decorate around
Use 'umdekorieren' for aesthetic room refreshes, but use 'renovieren' for actual construction or painting.
في 15 ثانية
- Refreshing a room's look without major construction or structural changes.
- A separable verb where 'um' moves to the end of sentences.
- Highly popular during seasonal transitions like Christmas or Spring.
المعنى
It means giving a room or a space a fresh look by changing the arrangement of furniture, swapping out cushions, or adding new art. It is less about heavy construction and more about the aesthetic vibe of your home.
أمثلة رئيسية
3 من 6Talking about weekend plans
Dieses Wochenende möchte ich endlich mein Wohnzimmer umdekorieren.
This weekend I finally want to redecorate my living room.
Explaining a messy house to a visitor
Bitte entschuldige das Chaos, ich dekoriere gerade um.
Please excuse the mess, I am currently redecorating.
A professional retail setting
Wir müssen das Schaufenster für die neue Kollektion umdekorieren.
We need to redecorate the shop window for the new collection.
خلفية ثقافية
In Germany, 'umdekorieren' is deeply linked to the change of seasons. Many households have specific boxes in the basement for Easter, Autumn, and Christmas decorations. It is a social ritual that signals a fresh start and a connection to the calendar year.
The Separable Secret
Remember that 'um' acts like a satellite. It orbits the verb and lands at the very end of the sentence. If you forget it, you're just 'decorating', not 'redecorating'!
Don't say 'renovieren'
If you tell a German you are 'renovieren', they will expect paint fumes and ladders. If you just bought a new lamp, use 'umdekorieren'.
في 15 ثانية
- Refreshing a room's look without major construction or structural changes.
- A separable verb where 'um' moves to the end of sentences.
- Highly popular during seasonal transitions like Christmas or Spring.
What It Means
Imagine walking into your living room and feeling bored. You don't want to knock down walls. You just want a new vibe. That is umdekorieren. It is the art of refreshing a space. You might move the sofa to the other wall. Maybe you buy some yellow pillows for spring. It is about style and mood. It is a very common weekend activity in Germany.
How To Use It
This is a separable verb. That is the tricky part. In a normal sentence, the um flies to the very end. You would say: Ich dekoriere mein Zimmer um. If you use a modal verb, it stays together: Ich möchte umdekorieren. It is a weak verb, so the past tense is umdekoriert. You can use it for your house, your office, or even a shop window.
When To Use It
Use it when the seasons change. Germans love 'Frühlingsdeko' (spring decor) and 'Weihnachtsdeko' (Christmas decor). Use it when you are talking about your weekend plans. It is perfect for telling a friend why your house is a mess. 'Sorry, I am just redecorating!' It sounds creative and productive. It is also great for professional contexts like retail. A shop owner might umdekorieren for a sale.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if you are painting walls or laying floor. That is renovieren. If you are just moving heavy furniture but not adding style, use umräumen. Do not use it for personal grooming. You cannot umdekorieren your face with makeup. That would sound very strange! Stick to physical spaces and rooms.
Cultural Background
Germans take their homes very seriously. The concept of Gemütlichkeit (coziness) is king. Changing the decor is a way to maintain that feeling. There are entire stores like 'Depot' or 'Nanunana' dedicated to this. Many people treat their balcony as an extra room. They umdekorieren the balcony as soon as the sun comes out. It is a point of pride to have a 'stimmig' (harmonious) home.
Common Variations
You will often hear umgestalten. This is a bit broader and means 'to redesign'. Another one is verschönern, which means 'to make more beautiful'. If you are specifically moving furniture, use umräumen. For the initial setup of a flat, use einrichten. If you are just adding small bits, you might say etwas aufhübschen (to pretty something up).
ملاحظات الاستخدام
The verb is neutral and very versatile. Just watch out for the separable prefix 'um' and don't confuse it with structural renovation.
The Separable Secret
Remember that 'um' acts like a satellite. It orbits the verb and lands at the very end of the sentence. If you forget it, you're just 'decorating', not 'redecorating'!
Don't say 'renovieren'
If you tell a German you are 'renovieren', they will expect paint fumes and ladders. If you just bought a new lamp, use 'umdekorieren'.
The Sunday Rule
In Germany, Sunday is 'Ruhetag' (rest day). You can 'umdekorieren' quietly, but don't start 'umräumen' (moving heavy furniture) or you might annoy the neighbors!
أمثلة
6Dieses Wochenende möchte ich endlich mein Wohnzimmer umdekorieren.
This weekend I finally want to redecorate my living room.
Using the infinitive with a modal verb 'möchte'.
Bitte entschuldige das Chaos, ich dekoriere gerade um.
Please excuse the mess, I am currently redecorating.
The separable prefix 'um' is implied or the verb is used in present progress.
Wir müssen das Schaufenster für die neue Kollektion umdekorieren.
We need to redecorate the shop window for the new collection.
Very common in the retail and fashion industry.
Überraschung! Ich habe heute den Flur komplett umdekoriert.
Surprise! I completely redecorated the hallway today.
Using the perfect tense 'habe umdekoriert'.
Meine Frau dekoriert alle zwei Wochen die ganze Wohnung um.
My wife redecorates the whole apartment every two weeks.
Highlights the frequency and the separable verb structure.
Nach der Trennung musste ich erst mal mein Schlafzimmer umdekorieren.
After the breakup, I first had to redecorate my bedroom.
Shows how changing a space can help with emotional transitions.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the correct form of the verb for the sentence: 'I am redecorating the kitchen.'
Ich ___ die Küche ___.
In a simple present sentence, 'umdekorieren' splits, and the conjugated part 'dekoriere' matches 'Ich'.
Which verb fits best if you are just moving the sofa but not changing the style?
Ich möchte heute nur das Sofa ___.
'Umräumen' specifically refers to moving furniture around, whereas 'umdekorieren' involves aesthetic changes.
🎉 النتيجة: /2
وسائل تعلم بصرية
Formality of 'umdekorieren'
Talking to friends about your new pillows.
Ich hab' mal wieder umdekoriert!
Standard everyday usage for home improvement.
Wir sollten das Gästezimmer umdekorieren.
Business context regarding office aesthetics.
Die Empfangshalle wird am Montag umdekoriert.
Where to use 'umdekorieren'
Living Room
New curtains and candles.
Shop Window
Changing for a summer sale.
Office
Adding plants to desks.
Balcony
Putting up fairy lights.
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةYes, it is! In a main clause, the 'um' prefix moves to the end, for example: Ich dekoriere heute mein Büro um.
Renovieren involves construction work like painting walls or fixing floors. Umdekorieren is strictly about aesthetics and accessories.
Usually, we say den Garten umgestalten. However, if you are just moving lanterns and pots, umdekorieren is perfectly fine.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss when talking about the office or with your best friend about your bedroom.
You use the Perfekt tense: Ich habe umdekoriert. The 'ge' is omitted because the verb ends in '-ieren'.
No, that would be weird. If someone changes their style, you would use sich umstylen or sich anders anziehen.
Not necessarily. You can umdekorieren just by moving things you already own to new spots.
It is often called saisonal umdekorieren. For example: Ich dekoriere für Weihnachten um.
Yes, the noun is die Umdekoration, but it is rarely used. People usually prefer the verb or the phrase das Umdekorieren.
Umgestalten is the most common synonym, though it sounds a bit more like a project than a quick change.
عبارات ذات صلة
umräumen
To move furniture around
einrichten
To furnish/set up a room
verschönern
To embellish or make prettier
renovieren
To renovate or refurbish
umgestalten
To redesign or reshape a space
التعليقات (0)
تسجيل الدخول للتعليقابدأ تعلم اللغات مجاناً
ابدأ التعلم مجاناً