En 15 secondes
- Used for sending any digital file to the internet or server.
- It is a separable verb: 'hoch' goes to the end.
- The opposite of 'herunterladen', which means to download.
Signification
Think of this as the digital bridge between your device and the internet. It is what you do when you send a photo to Instagram or a PDF to your boss.
Exemples clés
3 sur 6Posting on social media
Ich lade gleich ein neues Video auf Instagram hoch.
I'm about to upload a new video to Instagram.
At work
Haben Sie den Bericht schon hochgeladen?
Have you already uploaded the report?
Texting a friend
Lade die Fotos bitte in unsere Gruppe hoch!
Please upload the photos to our group!
Contexte culturel
Germans are very sensitive about 'Datenschutz' (data protection). Always ask before you 'hochladen' a photo of someone else. In Swiss German, you might hear 'ufelade' instead of 'hochladen'. The 'ufe' corresponds to 'auf/hoch'. The term is used identically in Austria, especially in the context of 'E-Government' portals which are very advanced there. In coworking spaces in Berlin, 'hochladen' is often replaced by 'uploaden' as English is the lingua franca.
Separable Verb Rule
Always remember: 'Ich lade hoch'. The 'hoch' is like a lonely traveler who always goes to the very end of the sentence.
Don't say 'gehochladet'
It's a common mistake. The correct form is 'hochgeladen'. Think of the 'ge' as a bridge between 'hoch' and 'laden'.
En 15 secondes
- Used for sending any digital file to the internet or server.
- It is a separable verb: 'hoch' goes to the end.
- The opposite of 'herunterladen', which means to download.
What It Means
hochladen is your go-to word for anything digital moving from 'here' to 'there.' It covers photos, videos, documents, and even those funny cat memes. It is a direct equivalent to the English word 'upload.' You are essentially 'loading' something 'up' into the cloud or a server.
How To Use It
This is a separable verb, which can be a bit tricky. In a normal sentence, the hoch part flies to the very end. You would say, Ich lade das Foto hoch. If you are using it in the past tense, it becomes hochgeladen. For example, Ich habe es hochgeladen. It sounds technical, but it is used by everyone from toddlers to grandmas. Just remember to keep that hoch at the end of your main clause!
When To Use It
Use it whenever you are dealing with the internet or a network. Use it when posting a story on social media. Use it when submitting a homework assignment online. It is perfect for professional emails when you tell a colleague you have added a file to the shared drive. Even when you are just texting a friend about a shared photo album, hochladen is the right choice.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use hochladen for physical objects. If you are putting groceries into a truck, use einladen. If you are bringing something from the internet to your phone, use herunterladen (download). Also, avoid using it for 'posting' a comment; that is usually posten or schreiben. It specifically refers to the act of transferring a file.
Cultural Background
Germany has a bit of a reputation for being 'digital-slow' compared to some neighbors. However, the word hochladen is ubiquitous. Because German likes to create its own words for tech, hochladen beat out the English 'upload' for official use. You will see it on every German website button. It represents the modern, digital side of a country that still loves its paper forms.
Common Variations
You might hear younger people say uploaden, which is 'Denglisch' (German-English). It follows German grammar but uses the English root. Another casual way to say it is raufschicken, which literally means 'to send up.' In very formal IT contexts, you might see übermitteln, but hochladen remains the king of the digital hill.
Notes d'usage
The verb is neutral and safe for all contexts. Just be careful with the separable prefix 'hoch' in subordinate clauses, where it stays attached: '...weil ich das Foto hochlade.'
Separable Verb Rule
Always remember: 'Ich lade hoch'. The 'hoch' is like a lonely traveler who always goes to the very end of the sentence.
Don't say 'gehochladet'
It's a common mistake. The correct form is 'hochgeladen'. Think of the 'ge' as a bridge between 'hoch' and 'laden'.
Preposition Choice
Use 'auf' for websites and servers. Use 'in' for specific folders or the cloud (e.g., in {die|f} Cloud).
Exemples
6Ich lade gleich ein neues Video auf Instagram hoch.
I'm about to upload a new video to Instagram.
Note how 'hoch' moves to the very end of the sentence.
Haben Sie den Bericht schon hochgeladen?
Have you already uploaded the report?
The past participle 'hochgeladen' is used in formal questions.
Lade die Fotos bitte in unsere Gruppe hoch!
Please upload the photos to our group!
An imperative (command) form used among friends.
Mein Internet ist so langsam, das Hochladen dauert ewig.
My internet is so slow, uploading takes forever.
Here, 'Hochladen' is used as a noun (gerund).
Ich habe gestern alle alten Familienfotos hochgeladen.
I uploaded all the old family photos yesterday.
Expressing the completion of a meaningful task.
Die Datei lässt sich einfach nicht hochladen.
The file simply won't upload.
Using 'lassen' to describe a technical frustration.
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of 'hochladen' in the present tense.
Er ______ {das|n} Video auf YouTube ______.
In the present tense, 'hochladen' is separable and has a vowel change (a -> ä) for 'er'.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Select the correct past tense sentence.
'Hochladen' is a strong verb, so the participle ends in -en and the 'ge' is in the middle.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Hast du {den|m} Bericht schon fertig? B: Ja, ich ______ ihn gerade ______.
The speaker is talking about an action happening right now (present tense, 1st person).
Match the action to the correct verb.
You want to send a photo from your phone to Facebook.
Sending data from a device to the internet is 'hochladen'.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Direction of Data
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesEr ______ {das|n} Video auf YouTube ______.
In the present tense, 'hochladen' is separable and has a vowel change (a -> ä) for 'er'.
Select the correct past tense sentence.
'Hochladen' is a strong verb, so the participle ends in -en and the 'ge' is in the middle.
A: Hast du {den|m} Bericht schon fertig? B: Ja, ich ______ ihn gerade ______.
The speaker is talking about an action happening right now (present tense, 1st person).
You want to send a photo from your phone to Facebook.
Sending data from a device to the internet is 'hochladen'.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questions'Hochladen' is the technical act of moving the file. 'Posten' is the social act of making it public. You can upload a file to a private folder without posting it.
Yes, it is very common in casual and tech contexts, but 'hochladen' is better for formal writing and exams.
It is a strong verb (laden - lud - geladen).
Usually 'auf' + Accusative. Example: 'auf {die|f} Webseite hochladen'.
You can say: '{der|m} Upload ist fertig' or '{das|n} Hochladen ist abgeschlossen'.
It is always 'hochgeladen'. The 'ge' goes after the separable prefix.
No, that would sound like a sci-fi movie where you digitize a human. Use 'hochheben' for lifting a person.
It is a controversial software that checks if uploaded content violates copyright laws.
Du lädst hoch. (Note the vowel change from a to ä).
You 'hochladen' an attachment to the email service, but you 'versenden' (send) the email itself.
Expressions liées
herunterladen
contrastTo download
posten
similarTo post
teilen
builds onTo share
speichern
similarTo save
übermitteln
specialized formTo transmit
