Nebel liegen
Fog lies
Littéralement: Fog to lie
Use 'liegen' with 'Nebel' to describe mist resting on the ground or over a landscape.
En 15 secondes
- Fog 'lies' (liegen) rather than just 'is' (sein) in German.
- Used for weather reports, landscapes, and describing visibility.
- Pairs perfectly with the adjective 'dicht' to mean 'thick fog'.
Signification
In German, fog doesn't just 'exist'—it 'lies' like a heavy blanket over the ground or a specific area.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Describing the morning weather
Heute Morgen liegt dichter Nebel im Tal.
This morning, thick fog lies in the valley.
Warning a friend about driving conditions
Fahr vorsichtig, auf der Autobahn liegt schwerer Nebel.
Drive carefully, heavy fog lies on the highway.
Texting a friend about a hike
Wir sehen nichts, hier liegt totaler Nebel!
We can't see anything, there's total fog here!
Contexte culturel
Germany's varied landscape, from the Rhine valley to the Alps, makes fog a frequent atmospheric character. It is a central motif in German Romanticism, symbolizing mystery and the sublime in art and literature.
The 'Soup' Comparison
When the fog is so thick you can't see the car in front of you, Germans call it 'Suppe' (soup). You can say: 'Man fährt wie durch eine Suppe!'
Don't just use 'sein'
While 'Es ist neblig' (It is foggy) is correct, using 'Nebel liegt' makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
En 15 secondes
- Fog 'lies' (liegen) rather than just 'is' (sein) in German.
- Used for weather reports, landscapes, and describing visibility.
- Pairs perfectly with the adjective 'dicht' to mean 'thick fog'.
What It Means
In German, fog is more than just a weather condition. It is treated like a physical object that rests. When you say Nebel liegt, you mean it is sitting there. It covers the ground like a thick, heavy blanket. It doesn't just 'happen' in the sky. It stays low and hugs the earth. It is a very vivid and stationary way to describe mist.
How To Use It
You will mostly use the verb liegen in the third person. Use liegt for the present and lag for the past. You can say Es liegt Nebel for a general statement. Or use Der Nebel liegt über... to be more specific. Add dicht (thick) to describe a really heavy fog. It is a simple subject-verb-location structure. You will find it very easy to plug into sentences.
When To Use It
This is your go-to phrase for any foggy situation. Use it when looking out the window in the morning. It is perfect for describing your drive to work. You will hear it constantly on the radio during traffic updates. It is also great for being descriptive during a hike. If you are writing a spooky story, this phrase is essential. It sets the scene perfectly for a mystery.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use liegen for rain or snow while they fall. Those elements use the verb fallen. Only once snow is on the ground can it liegen. Also, avoid using it for smoke from a fire. Smoke usually zieht (pulls/moves) or steht (stands). Don't use it for a 'foggy' brain unless you are being poetic. For a confused mind, Germans often say they have a Brett vorm Kopf.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep connection to their forests and valleys. The image of fog in a valley is iconic here. Think of the famous painter Caspar David Friedrich. His works often feature people looking at 'lying' fog. It represents the 'Romantik' era of the 19th century. It is about the beauty and power of nature. Even today, a foggy morning feels very 'German' to locals.
Common Variations
You will often hear dichter Nebel for 'thick fog.' If it's just starting, people say Nebel zieht auf. In the morning, it is often called Frühnebel. If you cannot see anything, you might say Suppe (soup). For example, Man fährt wie durch eine Suppe. But liegen remains the most common verb for the state. It is the standard way to describe the scene.
Notes d'usage
This is a very safe, neutral collocation. It works in all registers from casual texting to formal weather reporting. Just remember to conjugate 'liegen' correctly based on the tense.
The 'Soup' Comparison
When the fog is so thick you can't see the car in front of you, Germans call it 'Suppe' (soup). You can say: 'Man fährt wie durch eine Suppe!'
Don't just use 'sein'
While 'Es ist neblig' (It is foggy) is correct, using 'Nebel liegt' makes you sound much more like a native speaker.
Romanticism Vibes
If you use this phrase to describe a landscape, you are tapping into centuries of German art history. It's a very poetic way to view the world.
Exemples
6Heute Morgen liegt dichter Nebel im Tal.
This morning, thick fog lies in the valley.
A very standard way to describe a foggy morning.
Fahr vorsichtig, auf der Autobahn liegt schwerer Nebel.
Drive carefully, heavy fog lies on the highway.
Commonly used in safety warnings.
Wir sehen nichts, hier liegt totaler Nebel!
We can't see anything, there's total fog here!
Informal and descriptive for immediate surroundings.
In meinem Kopf liegt heute auch noch Nebel.
There is still fog in my head today too.
Using the weather phrase to describe a 'foggy' brain.
Ein grauer Nebel lag über der ganzen Stadt.
A gray fog lay over the whole city.
Setting a somber or atmospheric tone.
Über Norddeutschland liegt heute verbreitet Nebel.
Fog lies widely over Northern Germany today.
Formal language used in news broadcasts.
Teste-toi
Choose the correct verb to describe the fog in the valley.
Der Nebel ___ heute tief im Tal.
In German, fog 'lies' (liegt) rather than 'stands' or 'makes'.
Complete the sentence to describe thick fog.
Es liegt ___ Nebel auf der Straße.
'Dicht' (thick/dense) is the standard adjective used with 'Nebel'.
🎉 Score : /2
Aides visuelles
Formality of 'Nebel liegen'
Texting a friend about bad visibility.
Hier liegt echt krasser Nebel!
Standard conversation about the weather.
Heute liegt Nebel im Garten.
Radio weather or traffic report.
Es liegt Nebel mit Sichtweiten unter 50 Metern.
Where to use 'Nebel liegen'
Mountain Hiking
Der Nebel liegt auf dem Gipfel.
Morning Commute
Auf der Brücke liegt Nebel.
Spooky Story
Ein mysteriöser Nebel lag über dem See.
Looking out the window
Es liegt heute viel Nebel draußen.
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsUsually no. Fog 'lies' (liegt). 'Stehen' is sometimes used for heat (Die Hitze steht im Raum), but not typically for fog.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss, your grandma, or in a newspaper article.
You would say Nebel zieht auf (Fog is moving in/drawing up) or Es wird neblig.
Nebel is thick (visibility < 1km), while Dunst is just a light haze or mist.
No, that sounds like a personification from a fairy tale. Stick to liegt for everyday use.
Use the Präteritum: Der Nebel lag über dem Feld (The fog lay over the field).
Yes, but it's metaphorical. You could say Ich habe Nebel im Kopf, though it's not a medical term.
Absolutely. In den Straßen liegt Nebel is a very common way to describe a city morning.
It's used for things that rest on the ground, like Nebel or Schnee (snow). It emphasizes the stillness.
That is 'high fog' or a low cloud layer that doesn't touch the ground. You would still say Es liegt Hochnebel.
Expressions liées
Nebel zieht auf
Dichter Nebel
Es ist neblig
Die Sicht ist schlecht
Im Nebel stochern
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