verb
to hide (something), to hide oneself
B1
Verstecken: means 'to hide (something)' (transitive) and 'to hide oneself' (reflexive: sich verstecken). Regular weak verb, uses haben in perfect (ich habe etwas versteckt). Common reflexive imperative: Versteck dich! No stem vowel change; participle versteckt. Both transitive and reflexive uses common.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.EXAMPLES
Er versteckte den Schlüssel.
He hid the key.
Die Kinder versteckten die Überraschung, bevor die Gäste ankamen.
The children hid the surprise before the guests arrived.
Ich verstecke das Geschenk im Schrank.
I'm hiding the present in the cupboard.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.DETAILS_LABEL
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.MNEMONICS
Picture a child slipping behind a curtain to hide.
Sounds like 'vest' + 'check' — imagine checking under a vest to hide something.
VOCABULARY.DETAILS.NOTES
Inseparable prefix 'ver-' — common both transitively (etwas verstecken) and reflexively (sich verstecken). Imperative often used reflexively: 'Versteck dich!'.