bewacht

Bewacht is a German word that functions as both a past participle and an adjective, derived from the verb bewachen, meaning to guard or watch over. It denotes that someone or something is under protection, monitoring, or security. In ordinary use, it describes places, persons, or objects that are guarded. For example, der Bereich ist bewacht (the area is guarded) or die Tür wird bewacht (the door is being guarded). When used attributively before a noun, the form changes according to gender, number, and case, as in der bewachte Bereich (the guarded area) or ein bewachter Bereich (a guarded area). Predicative use is common in phrases like Der Bereich ist bewacht.

Etymology and grammatical notes: bewacht comes from bewachen, with the addition of the past participle ending -t. It follows typical German participial adjective patterns, requiring appropriate ending changes for definite or indefinite articles and for plural forms. As an adjective, it is distinct from the verb form used in the passive voice, such as Der Bereich wird bewacht, which emphasizes ongoing guarding.

Usage and nuance: Bewacht is frequently employed in security contexts, including borders, museums, transportation hubs, and event venues, to signal that access is controlled. It can also describe monitored conditions or surveillance states, as in ein bewachter Bereich oder eine bewachte Zone. While closely related to nouns like Wache (guard) and Wächter (guard), bewacht emphasizes the state of being under guard rather than the agent performing the guarding.

See also: bewachen, Wache, Wächter, Überwachung.