ab|tauchen
Translation
to dive down, to submerge, to go into hiding, to disappear
Examples
Der Taucher ist schnell abgetaucht.
The diver dived down quickly.
Er ist für ein paar Wochen abgetaucht.
He went into hiding for a few weeks.
Grammar Patterns
(intransitive) to dive down The penguin dives down.
(intransitive, figurative) to go into hiding The witness has gone into hiding.
Similar Words
Synonyms: untertauchen (to submerge), verschwinden (to disappear); Antonyms: auftauchen (to surface)
Etymology
From 'ab-' (down, away) + 'tauchen' (to dive). Literally 'to dive down/away'.
Memory Tips
Picture a submarine 'diving' (tauchen) 'down' (ab) to disappear. This works for both the literal and the figurative 'go into hiding' meaning.