Stauen

Stauen is a German verb meaning to dam up, to accumulate behind a barrier, or to back up and cause a congestion. In hydrology and water management, stauen refers to the retention of water behind a dam or weir, forming a reservoir and altering the river’s flow. The process can be intentional, for purposes such as water storage, flood control, or hydroelectric power, or it can occur when obstructions impede flow. Engineering controls like gates and spillways regulate the degree of stauung, sediment deposition, and ecological effects.

In everyday language, stauen also describes the formation of a backlog or traffic jam. The noun Stau denotes a jam or backlog, commonly on roads or other transport networks. For example, the traffic on a highway may stau sich (back up). The term is used in present-tense descriptions like Der Verkehr staut sich auf der Autobahn, and in past tense forms such as Der Fluss wurde gestaut, um einen Stausee zu bilden.

Etymology and usage notes: the word stems from Germanic roots associated with pushing, backing up, or piling up. Today, stauen is most often encountered in water-management contexts and in colloquial traffic reporting. Related terms include Stausee (reservoir), Stau (traffic jam), and Stauung (backing up).

See also: Stau, Stausee, Stauung.