umzäunen

German

Etymology

From Middle High German umbzūnen, umbeziunen, equivalent to um- +‎ zäunen. Compare Middle Low German ümmetünen.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʊmˈt͡sɔɪ̯nən/

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

1. to fence in, enclose

   Synonym: einzäunen

   • 1933, “Die Moorsoldaten [Peat Bog Soldiers]”, Johann Esser and Wolfgang Langhoff (lyrics), Rudi Goguel (music), performed by leftist political prisoners in Nazi concentration camps:

     Auf und nieder geh'n die Posten, / keiner, keiner kann hindurch. / Flucht wird nur das Leben kosten, / vierfach ist umzäunt die Burg.

     Up and down the guards are walking, / Nobody, nobody can get through. / Escape would but waste one's life, / Fourfold is enclosed the fort.

Conjugation

Related terms

• Zaun

Further reading

• “umzäunen” in Duden online