umbauen

rebuild

verb UM-bau-en Less Common

Also means

convert

Usage Note

umbauen is normally separable (ich baue um) and means to remodel or convert a building. Beware the stress shift: stressed UM-bauen means 'rebuild', but inseparable um-BAU-en means 'to build around / surround' — a classic German prefix trap.

Examples

"Wir bauen die Garage zum Büro um."

Natural Translation

We're converting the garage into an office.

Literal Translation

We build the garage to-the office around.

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