Haften

Haften is a German verb with several related meanings. The primary sense is to be liable or responsible for something, especially in civil or contractual contexts. In this sense, it is used with the preposition für followed by a noun in the accusative: Der Hersteller haftet für den Schaden. In legal language, Haftung denotes liability or the obligation to compensate; phrases such as die Haftung übernehmen mean to assume liability. The expression ich hafte dafür means I am liable for it, or I am responsible for it. In everyday speech, haften can also describe responsibility in a broader moral or social sense.

A second, independent sense of haften is physical adhesion: to cling or adhere to a surface. In this usage, the preposition an governs a dative object: Der Kleber haftet an der Wand. Die Substanz haftet gut an der Oberfläche. This sense is common in chemistry, materials science, and everyday observations about sticking.

Conjugation and forms: present tense ich hafte, du haftest, er haftet, wir haften, ihr haftet, sie haften. Simple past: ich haftete, du haftetest, er haftete, wir hafteten, ihr haftetet, sie hafteten. Past participle: gehaftet. Perfect forms use haben, for example: ich habe gehaftet, du hast gehaftet, er hat gehaftet.

Etymology and related terms: Haften derives from older Germanic roots associated with clinging or attaching. The related noun Haftung denotes liability or responsibility, while Haftpflichtversicherung refers to liability insurance. The noun Haft can mean custody or confinement, a different usage not reflected in the verb sense.

Usage notes: Haften normally takes for with a claim of liability, and an with adhesive senses. Distinctions between Haftung and Schuld (guilt) are common in legal and ethical contexts.