festnageln

/ˈfɛstˌnaːɡl̩n/

verb C1

der (masc.) die (fem.) das (neut.)

Underline = a spelling pattern that usually signals that gender.

Forms

present: nagelt fest
past: nagelte fest
perfect: hat festgenagelt

Meaning

to nail down

Built from fest (fixed, firm) + nageln (to nail).
- Man nagelte das Brett fest.
  
  The board was nailed down.
- Er nagelte das Brett fest, damit es nicht wackelte. Der Tisch stand nun stabil.
  
  He nailed the board down so that it did not wobble. The table now stood firmly.

Made of

fest fixed, firm
nageln to nail

Similar words

nageln

nageln is the general verb "to nail"; festnageln means to nail something down firmly, and figuratively "to pin someone down," holding them to a commitment.

Practice

1 What does festnageln mean?

2 Fill the gap: Man ___ das Brett fest.

3 Which fingerprint chart matches festnageln?

verbseparablecompound

Last updated 2026-09-24