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B1 verb #10,000 الأكثر شيوعاً 10 دقيقة للقراءة

ertrinken

الأكثر شيوعاً #10,000

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح ertrinken في 30 ثانية

الشرح ertrinken in your Level:

At the A1 level, you likely won't use the word 'ertrinken' yourself, as it is quite specific and tragic. However, you might see it in very simple warnings. You should know that 'trinken' means to drink, and 'ertrinken' is a different, more dangerous word. If you see a sign with a person in water and a red line through it, it's about the danger of drowning. You should focus on basic verbs first, but recognizing the 'er-' prefix as something that changes a verb's meaning is a good first step. For now, just remember: 'Trinken' is good (water), 'Ertrinken' is bad (too much water in the wrong place).

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At A2, you are starting to learn past tense verbs. You should know that 'ertrinken' is a strong verb and uses 'sein' in the Perfekt. You might encounter it in simple stories or news headlines. You should be able to understand a sentence like 'Der Mann konnte nicht schwimmen und ist ertrunken.' You are also learning about prepositions; 'ertrinken' usually takes 'in' with the Dative case. It's important to start distinguishing between 'sinken' (for things) and 'ertrinken' (for people), although you might still mix them up occasionally.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

As a B1 learner, you should be able to use 'ertrinken' correctly in both literal and metaphorical contexts. You should understand the difference between 'ertrinken' (to drown) and 'ertränken' (to drown something/someone). You can now use it to describe being overwhelmed, such as 'Ich ertrinke in Hausaufgaben'. You should be comfortable with its principal parts (ertrinken, ertrank, ist ertrunken) and use the auxiliary 'sein' without thinking. You might also encounter the noun 'das Ertrinken' in safety instructions or health-related texts.

At B2, you should have a firm grasp of the nuances of 'ertrinken'. You can use it in more complex grammatical structures, such as the subjunctive (Konjunktiv II): 'Wenn er nicht vorsichtig gewesen wäre, wäre er ertrunken.' You understand that it is a resultative verb. You can also distinguish it from similar verbs like 'versinken', 'untergehen', and 'ersticken' in various contexts. You might use it in discussions about environmental issues, like rising sea levels, or in literary analysis when discussing themes of despair or nature's power.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At C1, you use 'ertrinken' with stylistic precision. You understand its poetic potential and can use it in sophisticated metaphors. You are aware of its etymological roots and how the prefix 'er-' functions to denote a fatal or final outcome. You can discuss the legal or medical implications of 'Ertrinken' (e.g., 'Tod durch Ertrinken') and use the word in abstract philosophical debates. Your usage is indistinguishable from a native speaker, including the correct use of the past participle as an adjective ('der Ertrunkene' - the drowned person).

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

At the C2 level, you possess a mastery of 'ertrinken' in all its forms. You can appreciate and use it in the highest registers of literature and academic writing. You might explore the word's role in German cultural history, from the legends of the Lorelei to modern cinematic depictions of maritime disasters. You can manipulate the word to create irony, dark humor, or profound pathos. You are fully comfortable with archaic or highly regional variations and can explain the subtle differences in connotation between 'ertrinken' and its synonyms to other learners.

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

تدرّب عليها أمثلة ملاحظات ونصائح

ertrinken في 30 ثانية

Ertrinken is the German verb for 'to drown' (intransitive), meaning the subject dies in water.
It is a strong verb (i-a-u) and uses 'sein' as its auxiliary in the perfect tense.
It differs from 'ertränken', which is the active act of drowning someone else or something.
Commonly used metaphorically to express being overwhelmed by work, debt, or intense emotions.

The German verb ertrinken is a powerful and specific term that primarily describes the process of dying due to submersion in water or another liquid. Unlike the English word 'drown', which can be used both for the act of dying (intransitive) and the act of killing someone by water (transitive), German makes a sharp grammatical distinction. Ertrinken is strictly intransitive, meaning it describes what happens to the subject. If you want to say someone caused another to drown, you must use the causative verb ertränken. Understanding this nuance is crucial for B1 learners moving into more nuanced communication.

Biological Context: In its most literal sense, ertrinken refers to the physiological failure caused by water entering the lungs. It is a word often found in news reports, safety warnings at beaches, or medical discussions. For example, 'Er ist im See ertrunken' (He drowned in the lake).
Metaphorical Drowning: Germans frequently use ertrinken to describe being overwhelmed by non-liquid substances or abstract concepts. You might hear someone say they are 'drowning in work' (in Arbeit ertrinken) or 'drowning in debt' (in Schulden ertrinken). This conveys a sense of being completely submerged and unable to breathe or escape.
The Role of 'sein': Grammatically, because ertrinken involves a change of state (from living to dead), it always takes the auxiliary verb sein in perfect tenses. Saying 'Ich habe ertrunken' is a classic mistake; it must be 'Ich bin (fast) ertrunken'.

Ohne die Hilfe des Rettungsschwimmers wäre der Junge im tiefen Wasser ertrunken.

Translation: Without the lifeguard's help, the boy would have drowned in the deep water.

In literature and poetry, this word is often used to evoke deep despair or the overwhelming power of nature. Romantic era German poets often used the imagery of ertrinken to symbolize a soul losing itself in love or the vastness of the universe. In modern daily life, however, it remains a serious word, usually reserved for accidents or extreme stress. When you use it figuratively, ensure the context is heavy enough to warrant such a strong verb; using it for a slightly busy day might sound overly dramatic unless used with irony.

Manchmal habe ich das Gefühl, in all diesen E-Mails zu ertrinken.

Translation: Sometimes I have the feeling of drowning in all these emails.

Lastly, note the prepositional use. One drowns in something (Dative case). 'Er ertrank im (in dem) Fluss'. The Dative case is used here because it describes the location where the state change occurs, rather than a movement toward a destination.

Using ertrinken correctly requires attention to its conjugation and its status as a strong (irregular) verb. Its principal parts are ertrinken – ertrank – ist ertrunken. Because it denotes a transition from life to death, it is a verb of 'change of state', and thus requires the auxiliary sein in the Perfekt and Plusquamperfekt tenses.

Präsens (Present Tense): In the present tense, it follows standard strong verb patterns: 'Ich ertrinke', 'du ertrinkst', 'er/sie/es ertrinkt'. It is rarely used in the first person present unless metaphorically: 'Ich ertrinke in Arbeit'.
Perfekt (Past Conversational): This is the most common past tense form. Example: 'Das Tier ist im Sumpf ertrunken'. (The animal drowned in the swamp). Remember: always use ist, never hat.
Präteritum (Narrative Past): Used in news reports or stories: 'Der Seemann ertrank während des Sturms'. (The sailor drowned during the storm).

Wenn wir nichts unternehmen, wird die Stadt in den Fluten ertrinken.

Translation: If we do nothing, the city will drown in the floods.

When constructing complex sentences, ertrinken often pairs with modal verbs to express risk or possibility. 'Man kann hier leicht ertrinken' (One can easily drown here). In the passive voice? Trick question! Intransitive verbs like ertrinken do not have a standard passive form in the way transitive verbs do. You cannot 'be drowned' by the water in a passive construction using werden; you simply ertrinkst. If someone is drowning you, the active verb ertränken would be used, which *can* be made passive: 'Er wurde ertränkt' (He was drowned by someone).

Er hatte Angst, in der Menge der Menschen zu ertrinken.

Translation: He was afraid of drowning in the crowd of people (metaphorical).

Finally, consider the use of 'beinahe' or 'fast' (almost). 'Ich bin fast ertrunken' is a common way to describe a near-death experience in water. This highlights the 'resultative' nature of the verb—the process was nearly completed.

In contemporary Germany, you will encounter ertrinken in several specific domains. While it is a tragic word, it is necessary for safety and reporting. Understanding these contexts helps you gauge the appropriate tone and urgency associated with the word.

News and Media (Nachrichten): Every summer, German news outlets report on swimming accidents. Headlines like 'Zwei Menschen in der Ostsee ertrunken' (Two people drowned in the Baltic Sea) are common. The word is used factually and somberly here.
Safety Warnings (Sicherheitshinweise): At public pools (Freibäder) or lakes, signs might warn: 'Vorsicht! Lebensgefahr! Ertrinkungsgefahr!' (Caution! Danger to life! Risk of drowning!). Note the noun form das Ertrinken or the compound Ertrinkungsgefahr.
The Workplace (Metaphorical): In a high-pressure office environment, colleagues might say, 'Ich ertrinke in Arbeit' or 'Wir ertrinken in Bürokratie'. This is a very common idiomatic use to express being overwhelmed.

Die Nachrichten meldeten, dass gestern ein Wanderer im Hochwasser ertrunken ist.

Translation: The news reported that a hiker drowned in the flood yesterday.

In literature, especially from the Sturm und Drang or Romantic periods, ertrinken is used to describe a character being overwhelmed by emotions. Goethe or Schiller might use it to describe 'ertrinken in Tränen' (drowning in tears). In music, especially in German Schlager or Pop, it often appears in lyrics about heartbreak: 'Ich ertrinke in deiner Liebe' (I am drowning in your love). However, be careful using such poetic expressions in casual conversation, as they can sound a bit 'kitschig' (cheesy).

Ohne klare Strukturen würde das Projekt im Chaos ertrinken.

Translation: Without clear structures, the project would drown in chaos.

Finally, you may encounter the word in historical contexts, such as the sinking of ships (like the Titanic). 'Tausende Menschen sind beim Untergang der Titanic ertrunken'. Here, the distinction between the ship sinking (sinken/untergehen) and the people drowning (ertrinken) is important.

Learning ertrinken presents several pitfalls for English speakers, mostly due to the differences in how the two languages handle transitivity and auxiliary verbs. Let's break down the most frequent errors so you can avoid them.

Mistake 1: Wrong Auxiliary Verb: English uses 'has drowned'. This leads many to say 'Er hat im See ertrunken'. In German, ertrinken indicates a change of state, which strictly requires sein. Correct: 'Er ist im See ertrunken'.
Mistake 2: Ertrinken vs. Ertränken: This is the most significant semantic error. Ertrinken is what the victim does. Ertränken is what the perpetrator does. If you say 'Er hat den Hund ertrunken', you are making a grammatical error because ertrinken cannot take a direct object. You must say 'Er hat den Hund ertränkt'.
Mistake 3: Confusing with 'Trinken': While they look similar, their meanings are worlds apart. Using trinken in a context where you mean ertrinken can lead to dark comedy or confusion. 'Er trinkt im Fluss' means 'He is drinking in the river', not 'He is drowning in the river'.

Falsch: Ich habe fast im Meer ertrunken.
Richtig: Ich bin fast im Meer ertrunken.

Another common mistake is the spelling of the past participle. Some learners write ertranken (which is the plural Präteritum) when they mean ertrunken (the past participle). Remember: Sie ertranken (They drowned) vs. Sie sind ertrunken (They have drowned). The 'u' is for the participle! Also, watch out for the reflexive use. In English, we don't say 'to drown oneself' often, but in German, if you want to say someone committed suicide by drowning, you would use sich ertränken (the transitive causative form used reflexively), not sich ertrinken (which is grammatically impossible).

Achtung: 'Das Schiff versinkt', aber 'die Menschen ertrinken'. Ships sink, people drown.

Lastly, avoid using ertrinken for things that aren't living or can't be personified. A phone doesn't ertrinken; it geht unter or bekommt einen Wasserschaden. Only things with lungs (or metaphorical lungs) can ertrinken.

German has several words related to the concept of sinking or dying in water. Choosing the right one depends on whether you are talking about a person, an object, or a metaphorical state. Here is a comparison of ertrinken with its closest relatives.

Ertrinken vs. Ertränken: Ertrinken is passive/intransitive (to drown). Ertränken is active/transitive (to drown someone/something).
Example: 'Die Katze ist ertrunken' (The cat drowned) vs. 'Er hat die Sorgen im Alkohol ertränkt' (He drowned his worries in alcohol).
Ertrinken vs. Versinken: Versinken means to sink or submerge. It doesn't necessarily imply death. A stone versinkt in the water. A person can versinken (sink) and then ertrinken (drown).
Example: 'Die Sonne versinkt im Meer' (The sun sinks into the sea).
Ertrinken vs. Untergehen: Untergehen is typically used for ships, suns, or empires. It means to go under or to perish in a broader sense.
Example: 'Das Schiff ging unter' (The ship sank).
Ertrinken vs. Ersticken: Ersticken means to suffocate or choke. Since drowning is a form of suffocation by liquid, they are related, but ertrinken is the specific term for water.
Example: 'Er ist an einem Stück Fleisch erstickt' (He choked on a piece of meat).

Während das Schiff unterging, hatten die Passagiere Angst zu ertrinken.

Translation: While the ship was sinking, the passengers were afraid of drowning.

In metaphorical contexts, you can replace ertrinken with überwältigt werden (to be overwhelmed) or untergehen. If you say 'Ich gehe in Arbeit unter', it is very similar to 'Ich ertrinke in Arbeit', though ertrinken feels slightly more desperate. If you are 'drowning in debt', you could also say 'in Schulden ersticken' (to suffocate in debt), emphasizing the lack of room to move or breathe financially.

Er ertränkte seine Enttäuschung in harter Arbeit.

Translation: He drowned his disappointment in hard work (Note the transitive 'ertränkte').

Understanding these distinctions ensures you don't accidentally describe a person 'sinking' like a rock (versinken) when you mean they are 'dying' (ertrinken), or vice versa.

How Formal Is It?

حقيقة ممتعة

The prefix 'er-' in German often indicates a transition into a state, frequently a fatal one (like 'erfrieren' - to freeze to death, or 'erschießen' - to shoot dead).

دليل النطق

UK /ɛɐ̯ˈtʁɪŋkn̩/

US /ɛrˈtrɪŋkən/

The stress is on the second syllable: er-TRIN-ken.

يتقافى مع

trinken sinken hinken winken stinken linken schminken zinken

أخطاء شائعة

Pronouncing it exactly like 'trinken' without the 'er-' prefix.
Over-emphasizing the 'r' in 'er' (it should be vocalized).
Confusing the 'i' sound with 'e'.
Failing to pronounce the 'ng' as a velar nasal.
Pronouncing the final 'en' too clearly (it's often a syllabic 'n').

مستوى الصعوبة

القراءة 3/5

Easy to recognize due to 'trinken', but prefix 'er-' must be understood.

الكتابة 4/5

Requires correct auxiliary 'sein' and strong verb conjugation.

التحدث 4/5

Must distinguish from 'ertränken' in active speech.

الاستماع 3/5

Clear pronunciation, but can be confused with 'trinken' in noisy environments.

ماذا تتعلّم بعد ذلك

المتطلبات الأساسية

trinken Wasser sterben sein in

تعلّم لاحقاً

ertränken versinken untergehen retten die Gefahr

متقدم

Asphyxie Lungenödem Kapillarwirkung hydrostatisch

قواعد يجب معرفتها

Auxiliary 'sein' for change of state.

Er ist (nicht hat) ertrunken.

Strong verb conjugation (Ablaut).

trinken -> trank -> getrunken (ertrinken -> ertrank -> ertrunken).

Prefix 'er-' denoting a result or death.

erfrieren, erschießen, ertrinken.

Dative case with 'in' for location of state change.

Er ist im (in dem) Fluss ertrunken.

Transitive vs. Intransitive (Causative pairs).

ertrinken (intr.) vs. ertränken (trans.).

سجّل مجاناً لقراءة الشرح الكامل

أمثلة حسب المستوى

Achtung! Hier kann man ertrinken.

Attention! Here one can drown.

Modal verb 'kann' + infinitive 'ertrinken'.

Der Fisch kann nicht ertrinken.

The fish cannot drown.

Simple negation with 'nicht'.

Hilfe! Ich ertrinke!

Help! I am drowning!

Present tense, 1st person singular.

Das Kind ist im Pool ertrunken.

The child drowned in the pool.

Perfekt with 'ist'.

Nicht trinken, sondern ertrinken.

Not drinking, but drowning.

Contrast between two similar-looking verbs.

Ertrinken ist gefährlich.

Drowning is dangerous.

Infinitive used as a subject.

Der Mann ist fast ertrunken.

The man almost drowned.

Use of 'fast' (almost) with Perfekt.

Im Wasser kann man ertrinken.

In the water, one can drown.

Preposition 'im' (in + dem) + Dative.

Letztes Jahr ist ein Hund im Fluss ertrunken.

Last year, a dog drowned in the river.

Perfekt tense with 'ist'.

Die Katze ist leider im Teich ertrunken.

The cat unfortunately drowned in the pond.

Adverb 'leider' used for emphasis.

Warum ist er ertrunken? Er konnte schwimmen.

Why did he drown? He could swim.

Question structure in Perfekt.

Wir haben Angst, dass wir im Meer ertrinken.

We are afraid that we will drown in the sea.

Subordinate clause with 'dass'.

Gestern ertrank ein Pferd im Moor.

Yesterday, a horse drowned in the moor.

Präteritum (narrative past).

Pass auf, sonst ertrinkst du!

Watch out, otherwise you'll drown!

Imperative + 'sonst' + present tense.

Sind viele Menschen bei dem Sturm ertrunken?

Did many people drown during the storm?

Interrogative in Perfekt.

Er ist im tiefen Wasser ertrunken.

He drowned in the deep water.

Adjective 'tiefen' in Dative case.

Ich ertrinke momentan absolut in Arbeit.

I am absolutely drowning in work at the moment.

Metaphorical use in present tense.

Die Rettungsschwimmer verhinderten, dass jemand ertrank.

The lifeguards prevented anyone from drowning.

Präteritum in a subordinate clause.

Ohne Schwimmweste wäre er sicher ertrunken.

Without a life jacket, he would have certainly drowned.

Konjunktiv II (conditional) with 'wäre'.

In den Nachrichten hieß es, ein Junge sei fast ertrunken.

The news said a boy almost drowned.

Konjunktiv I (indirect speech).

Sie ertrank fast in ihren eigenen Tränen.

She almost drowned in her own tears.

Poetic/metaphorical use.

Es ist wichtig, die Gefahr des Ertrinkens nicht zu unterschätzen.

It is important not to underestimate the danger of drowning.

Genitive noun phrase 'des Ertrinkens'.

Das Dorf ist bei der Flutkatastrophe fast ertrunken.

The village almost drowned during the flood disaster.

Metaphorical use for a location.

Er ist im See ertrunken, weil er einen Krampf hatte.

He drowned in the lake because he had a cramp.

Causal clause with 'weil'.

Die Gefahr zu ertrinken ist bei starker Strömung besonders hoch.

The danger of drowning is particularly high in strong currents.

Infinitive construction with 'zu'.

Manche Menschen ertränken ihre Sorgen, aber sie ertrinken dabei selbst.

Some people drown their worries, but they drown themselves in the process.

Contrast between transitive 'ertränken' and intransitive 'ertrinken'.

Der Kapitän wollte nicht, dass seine Mannschaft ertrinkt.

The captain did not want his crew to drown.

Subordinate clause with 'dass'.

Trotz der Warnungen sind mehrere Touristen im Fluss ertrunken.

Despite the warnings, several tourists drowned in the river.

Preposition 'trotz' + Genitive.

In der Flut von Informationen kann man leicht ertrinken.

One can easily drown in the flood of information.

Metaphorical abstract use.

Das Opfer ist laut Obduktion tatsächlich ertrunken.

According to the autopsy, the victim actually drowned.

Use of 'laut' + Dative/Genitive.

Er sah zu, wie seine Träume im Chaos ertranken.

He watched as his dreams drowned in chaos.

Metaphorical use in Präteritum.

Die Stadt droht in den steigenden Meeresspiegeln zu ertrinken.

The city threatens to drown in the rising sea levels.

Verb 'drohen' + 'zu' + infinitive.

Die Metapher des Ertrinkens zieht sich durch das gesamte Gedicht.

The metaphor of drowning runs through the entire poem.

Genitive case of the substantivized verb.

Inmitten des luxuriösen Überflusses schien er innerlich zu ertrinken.

In the midst of luxurious abundance, he seemed to be drowning internally.

Sophisticated metaphorical use.

Das Gesetz zielt darauf ab, Todesfälle durch Ertrinken zu minimieren.

The law aims to minimize deaths by drowning.

Prepositional phrase 'durch Ertrinken'.

Er fühlte sich, als würde er in der Verantwortung ertrinken.

He felt as if he were drowning in responsibility.

Irrealer Vergleichssatz with 'als würde'.

Die antike Stadt ist vor Jahrhunderten im Schlamm ertrunken.

The ancient city drowned in mud centuries ago.

Metaphorical use for inanimate objects.

Ohne staatliche Hilfe würde der Sektor in Schulden ertrinken.

Without state aid, the sector would drown in debt.

Conditional mood for economic context.

Die Stille war so schwer, dass man fast darin ertrinken konnte.

The silence was so heavy that one could almost drown in it.

Adverbial clause of result.

Er analysierte die psychologische Angst vor dem Ertrinken.

He analyzed the psychological fear of drowning.

Dative case after 'vor'.

In den Abgründen seiner eigenen Psyche drohte er zu ertrinken.

He threatened to drown in the depths of his own psyche.

Highly literary use.

Die philologische Untersuchung des Wortes 'ertrinken' offenbart dessen dichte Semantik.

The philological investigation of the word 'ertrinken' reveals its dense semantics.

Academic register.

Das lyrische Ich ertrinkt in der Unendlichkeit des Seins.

The lyrical I drowns in the infinity of being.

Literary analysis terminology.

Es ist ein Paradoxon: im Wasser zu dürsten und im Wein zu ertrinken.

It is a paradox: to thirst in water and to drown in wine.

Philosophical/Rhetorical use.

Die Bürokratie ist ein Sumpf, in dem jede Innovation zu ertrinken droht.

Bureaucracy is a swamp in which every innovation threatens to drown.

Extended metaphor.

Man kann in der Menge ertrinken, ohne dass es jemand bemerkt.

One can drown in the crowd without anyone noticing.

Existential metaphorical use.

Das Schicksal des Ertrunkenen blieb über Jahrzehnte ein Mysterium.

The fate of the drowned person remained a mystery for decades.

Substantivized adjective 'der Ertrunkene'.

In der Flut der Emotionen ertrank jegliche Vernunft.

In the flood of emotions, all reason drowned.

Präteritum in literary context.

تلازمات شائعة

im See ertrinken

fast ertrinken

in Arbeit ertrinken

in Schulden ertrinken

beim Schwimmen ertrinken

jämmerlich ertrinken

in Tränen ertrinken

im Schlamm ertrinken

in den Fluten ertrinken

lautlos ertrinken

العبارات الشائعة

in Selbstmitleid ertrinken

— To be completely consumed by feeling sorry for oneself.

Hör auf, in Selbstmitleid zu ertrinken!

in einem Glas Wasser ertrinken

— To be overwhelmed by the smallest, most insignificant problem (idiom).

Er ist so ungeschickt, er würde in einem Glas Wasser ertrinken.

in Arbeit ertrinken

— To have far too much work to handle.

Ich kann heute nicht kommen, ich ertrinke in Arbeit.

in der Menge ertrinken

— To lose one's individuality or be physically overwhelmed in a large group.

In dieser Großstadt kann man leicht in der Menge ertrinken.

in Schulden ertrinken

— To have an unmanageable amount of financial debt.

Nach der Krise ertranken viele Familien in Schulden.

in Vergessenheit ertrinken

— To be completely forgotten over time (poetic).

Sein Name ist in der Geschichte ertrunken.

im Chaos ertrinken

— To be totally overwhelmed by a lack of order.

Ohne Plan wird die Veranstaltung im Chaos ertrinken.

in Luxus ertrinken

— To have an excessive, almost overwhelming amount of wealth.

Die Reichen dort ertrinken förmlich in Luxus.

in Details ertrinken

— To get so lost in small parts that you lose the big picture.

Verliere nicht den Fokus, indem du in Details ertrinkst.

in Informationen ertrinken

— To suffer from information overload.

Wir ertrinken in Informationen, aber wir hungern nach Wissen.

يُخلط عادةً مع

ertrinken vs trinken

To drink. One is vital, the other is fatal.

ertrinken vs ertränken

To drown someone else. This is active/transitive.

ertrinken vs versinken

To sink. Used for objects or the sun.

تعبيرات اصطلاحية

"In einem Löffel Wasser ertrinken"

— To fail at something extremely easy or get overwhelmed by nothing.

Er ist so hilflos, er könnte in einem Löffel Wasser ertrinken.

informal/ironic

"Sorgen in Alkohol ertränken"

— To drink heavily to forget problems (Note: uses 'ertränken').

Man kann seine Sorgen nicht in Alkohol ertränken; sie können schwimmen.

colloquial

"In Arbeit ertrinken"

— To be extremely busy.

Frag ihn nicht, er ertrinkt gerade in Arbeit.

neutral

"In Tränen ertrinken"

— To cry excessively.

Nach dem Abschied ertrank sie fast in Tränen.

literary

"In der Flut ertrinken"

— To be overwhelmed by a massive amount of something (e.g., mail).

Ich ertrinke in der Flut von Bewerbungen.

neutral

"Im Sumpf der Bürokratie ertrinken"

— To be stuck and overwhelmed by administrative hurdles.

Kleine Firmen ertrinken oft im Sumpf der Bürokratie.

journalistic

"In Liebe ertrinken"

— To be completely consumed by romantic feelings.

Er wollte in ihren Augen ertrinken.

poetic

"Im Chaos versinken/ertrinken"

— To lose all control due to disorder.

Die Küche ertrinkt im Chaos.

informal

"In Schulden ertrinken"

— To be bankrupt or heavily indebted.

Er wird in seinen Schulden ertrinken, wenn er so weitermacht.

neutral

"Jemanden in Komplimenten ertränken"

— To give someone an excessive amount of praise (Note: 'ertränken').

Er hat sie förmlich in Komplimenten ertränkt.

neutral

سهل الخلط

ertrinken vs ertränken

Similar sound and related meaning.

Ertränken is what you do to something (transitive); ertrinken is what happens to you (intransitive).

Er ertränkte die Fliege im Glas. vs. Die Fliege ist im Glas ertrunken.

ertrinken vs sinken

Both involve going down in water.

Sinken is the movement; ertrinken is the resulting death.

Das Schiff sinkt. Die Passagiere ertrinken.

ertrinken vs untergehen

Both mean 'to go under'.

Untergehen is for ships, suns, or organizations. Ertrinken is for biological beings.

Die Sonne geht unter. Der Schwimmer ertrinkt.

ertrinken vs ersticken

Both involve lack of air.

Ersticken is general (choking, gas); ertrinken is specific to liquid.

Im verrauchten Haus ist er fast erstickt.

ertrinken vs absaufen

Synonym.

Absaufen is very informal/slang and often used for engines or when someone is drunk.

Die Karre ist im Schlamm abgesoffen.

أنماط الجُمل

Jemand ist in [Dativ-Ort] ertrunken.

Der Hund ist im Teich ertrunken.

Jemand ertrinkt in [Dativ-Abstrakt].

Ich ertrinke in Hausaufgaben.

Jemand wäre beinahe ertrunken, wenn...

Er wäre beinahe ertrunken, wenn ich ihn nicht gerettet hätte.

Die Gefahr zu ertrinken ist...

Die Gefahr zu ertrinken ist hier sehr groß.

Jemand droht in [Dativ] zu ertrinken.

Die Firma droht in Schulden zu ertrinken.

Das [Substantiv] des Ertrinkens...

Das Risiko des Ertrinkens wird oft unterschätzt.

Inmitten von [Dativ] ertrinken.

Inmitten des Lärms schien seine Stimme zu ertrinken.

Etwas in [Dativ] ertrinken lassen (metaphorisch).

Man sollte seine Träume nicht im Alltag ertrinken lassen.

عائلة الكلمة

الأسماء

das Ertrinken (drowning)

der Ertrunkene (the drowned man)

die Ertrunkene (the drowned woman)

der Ertrinkungstod (death by drowning)

الأفعال

trinken (to drink)

ertränken (to drown something/someone)

betrinken (to get drunk)

austrinken (to drink up)

الصفات

ertrunken (drowned)

trinkbar (potable)

مرتبط

das Wasser

der Tod

schwimmen

sinken

untergehen

سجّل مجاناً لرؤية جميع الأمثلة

كيفية الاستخدام

frequency

Common in news, safety, and metaphorical speech.

أخطاء شائعة

Er hat im See ertrunken. → Er ist im See ertrunken.
Ertrinken is a verb of change of state and must use 'sein'.
Er hat die Katze ertrunken. → Er hat die Katze ertränkt.
Ertrinken is intransitive. For causing something to drown, use 'ertränken'.
Mein Handy ist ertrunken. → Mein Handy ist untergegangen / hat einen Wasserschaden.
Inanimate objects do not 'ertrinken'.
Ich bin in der Arbeit ertrank. → Ich bin in der Arbeit ertrunken.
Use the past participle 'ertrunken' with 'sein' for the perfect tense, not the Präteritum 'ertrank'.
Er ist unter dem Wasser ertrunken. → Er ist im Wasser ertrunken.
While 'under water' is where it happens, the standard preposition is 'in'.

نصائح

Check the Auxiliary

Always use 'sein' for the perfect tense. Think of it as a movement from one state (alive) to another (dead).

The 'er-' Effect

The prefix 'er-' often turns a verb into a result. 'Trinken' is the action, 'ertrinken' is the fatal result.

People vs. Things

Don't say your phone drowned. Use 'untergehen' or 'kaputtgehen' for inanimate objects.

Stress Expression

Use 'Ich ertrinke in Arbeit' to sound more like a native speaker when you are busy.

Signage

If you see 'Ertrinkungsgefahr', stay out of the water! It's a serious warning.

The 'u' in Past

Remember: 'ertrank' (past simple) has an 'a', but 'ertrunken' (participle) has a 'u'.

Intransitive Only

Never put a direct object after 'ertrinken'. You can't 'ertrinken someone'.

Lorelei

Learn the Lorelei poem to see how 'ertrinken' is used in classic German literature.

Versinken vs. Ertrinken

Use 'versinken' if you just want to say something is going under the surface without focusing on death.

Passive Voice

You cannot use 'ertrinken' in the passive. Use 'ertränkt werden' if you must use passive.

احفظها

وسيلة تذكّر

Think of 'ER' as 'End Result'. The 'End Result' of 'trinken' (drinking) too much water into your lungs is 'ertrinken'.

ربط بصري

Imagine a person trying to 'drink' (trinken) the entire ocean, and then failing because it's too much. That 'ER' prefix is the danger sign.

Word Web

Wasser Lunge Tod See Schwimmen Unfall Rettung Sauerstoffmangel

تحدٍّ

Try to use 'ertrinken' in a sentence about a stressful day at work, and then in a sentence about a historical maritime disaster.

أصل الكلمة

From Middle High German 'ertrinken', Old High German 'irtrinkan'.

المعنى الأصلي: To perish by drinking or being filled with liquid.

Germanic (related to English 'drink').

السياق الثقافي

This is a word describing death. Use it with appropriate solemnity unless the metaphorical context is clearly established.

English speakers often use 'drown' for both active and passive roles. In German, you must be careful to use 'ertrinken' only for the one dying.

The Lorelei poem by Heinrich Heine (sailors drowning in the Rhine). The sinking of the Wilhelm Gustloff (a major maritime tragedy in German history). The poem 'Der Ertrinkende' by various modern authors exploring existential dread.

تدرّب في الحياة الواقعية

سياقات واقعية

Swimming/Beach

Rettungsschwimmer
Strömung
Badeverbot
Schwimmweste

Work/Office

Überstunden
Deadline
E-Mail-Flut
Stress

News/Accidents

Polizeibericht
Unglück
Vermisst
Bergung

Finance

Insolvenz
Zinsen
Kredit
Bankrott

Literature

Metapher
Verzweiflung
Symbolik
Tragödie

بدايات محادثة

"Bist du schon mal fast ertrunken, als du ein Kind warst?"

"Warum ertrinken so viele Menschen, obwohl sie schwimmen können?"

"Hast du das Gefühl, dass wir in der heutigen Welt in Informationen ertrinken?"

"Was sollte man tun, wenn man sieht, dass jemand im Wasser zu ertrinken droht?"

"Glaubst du, dass Städte wie Venedig irgendwann im Meer ertrinken werden?"

مواضيع للكتابة اليومية

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du dich gefühlt hast, als würdest du in Arbeit oder Verpflichtungen ertrinken.

Schreibe eine Kurzgeschichte über einen Matrosen, der Angst vor dem Ertrinken hat.

Wie hat sich die Sicherheit am Wasser in den letzten Jahrzehnten verbessert, um Ertrinken zu verhindern?

Reflektiere über die Metapher 'in Tränen ertrinken'. Ist sie heute noch zeitgemäß?

Was bedeutet es für eine Gesellschaft, wenn sie in Schulden ertrinkt?

الأسئلة الشائعة

10 أسئلة

Yes, literally it means to die. If you didn't die, you say 'Ich bin fast ertrunken' (I almost drowned).

No, you must use 'sein'. Correct: 'Ich bin im See ertrunken'.

Ertrinken is intransitive (you drown yourself/it happens to you). Ertränken is transitive (you drown something else).

No, a ship 'sinkt' or 'geht unter'. Only living things with lungs can 'ertrinken'.

It is a strong verb: ertrank (Präteritum) and ist ertrunken (Perfekt).

Yes, very often! You can drown in work, debt, emotions, or information.

The Dative case. 'In dem (im) Fluss ertrinken'.

Yes, 'das Ertrinken' (the act of drowning) or 'der Ertrinkungstod' (death by drowning).

You use the transitive verb: 'Sorgen in Alkohol ertränken'.

Yes, any animal that breathes air can 'ertrinken' in water.

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