bremsen
to brake; to slow down or stop a vehicle using a brake.
bremsen در ۳۰ ثانیه
- The verb 'bremsen' means to brake or slow down, both physically and metaphorically.
- It is a weak verb conjugated as: bremse, bremste, hat gebremst.
- Commonly used in traffic contexts (cars, bikes) and economic/political discussions (restraint).
- Synonyms include 'verlangsamen' (to slow down) and 'stoppen' (to stop).
The German verb bremsen is a fundamental word that every learner must master, primarily because it describes the essential action of slowing down or stopping a moving object, usually a vehicle. At its core, it translates to 'to brake' in English. However, like many German verbs, its utility extends far beyond the driver's seat of a Volkswagen. In a literal sense, you use it when you are riding a bike, driving a car, or even skating. It describes the physical mechanism of applying friction to wheels to decrease velocity. But as you progress in German, you will find bremsen appearing in news reports about the economy, political debates, and social discussions. In these contexts, it takes on a metaphorical meaning: to curb, to restrain, to hamper, or to slow down progress. For instance, high interest rates might 'brake' inflation, or a lack of funding might 'brake' a scientific project. Understanding the duality between the physical act of stopping and the abstract act of hindering is key to using this verb naturally.
- Literal Usage
- Applying the brakes on a car, bicycle, or train to reduce speed or come to a complete halt. It is a weak verb, making its conjugation predictable: ich bremse, ich bremste, ich habe gebremst.
- Metaphorical Usage
- Refers to slowing down processes, such as economic growth, enthusiasm, or political developments. It is often used in the context of the 'Schuldenbremse' (debt brake), a major topic in German politics regarding budget limitations.
Der Fahrer musste plötzlich bremsen, um den Unfall zu vermeiden.
Die hohen Zinsen bremsen die Investitionen der Unternehmen.
In everyday German life, you will hear this word constantly. In a driving lesson, the instructor might shout 'Brems!' (Brake!). In a business meeting, a manager might complain that bureaucracy is 'braking' their productivity. The word carries a sense of necessity in the physical world but often a sense of frustration in the professional world. It is also worth noting the prefix versions: 'abbremsen' (to slow down to a stop), 'ausbremsen' (to thwart or outmaneuver someone), and 'einbremsen' (to reel someone in or curb their enthusiasm). Each of these adds a layer of nuance to the basic action of stopping.
Using bremsen correctly requires an understanding of its conjugation and its relationship with direct objects. As a weak (regular) verb, it follows the standard pattern for '-en' ending verbs. In the present tense, it is straightforward: 'ich bremse', 'du bremst', 'er/sie/es bremst'. In the past tense (Präteritum), it becomes 'bremste', and the perfect tense (Perfekt) uses the auxiliary verb 'haben' with the past participle 'gebremst'. Because braking is an action performed by an agent (the driver) or a force (the economy), 'haben' is always the correct choice, even though the action results in a change of state or speed.
- Direct Object Usage
- When you want to say you are slowing something specific down, use the accusative case. 'Die Regierung bremst den Preisanstieg' (The government slows down the price increase). Here, 'den Preisanstieg' is the direct object.
- Intransitive Usage
- When the focus is simply on the action of the subject braking. 'Der Zug bremst' (The train is braking). No object is needed here.
Wenn es regnet, solltest du früher bremsen.
The word is often paired with adverbs to describe how the braking is occurring. Common pairings include 'scharf bremsen' (to brake hard/sharply), 'sanft bremsen' (to brake gently), and 'rechtzeitig bremsen' (to brake in time). These modifiers are essential for providing context in traffic situations. Furthermore, in the passive voice, you might see 'gebremst werden', often used in news reports: 'Das Wachstum wurde durch die Krise gebremst' (Growth was slowed down by the crisis).
Ich habe das Auto vor der Kurve gebremst.
You will encounter bremsen in several distinct 'habitats' of the German language. The most obvious is the world of transportation. Whether you are taking your 'Führerschein' (driver's license) test or riding the Deutsche Bahn, the vocabulary of slowing down is omnipresent. Announcements on trains might mention 'Der Zug bremst jetzt' (The train is braking now), or a GPS might advise you to slow down for a speed trap. Beyond the road, the word is a staple of financial and political journalism in Germany. Germany is famous for its 'Schuldenbremse' (debt brake), a constitutional rule that limits government borrowing. Thus, you will hear politicians arguing about whether to 'lösen' (release) or 'anziehen' (tighten) the 'Bremse'.
Die Inflation bremst die Kauflaune der Bürger.
In sports commentary, especially Formula 1 or cycling, 'bremsen' is used to describe tactical maneuvers. A commentator might say, 'Er hat zu spät gebremst und die Kurve verpasst' (He braked too late and missed the turn). In social contexts, you might hear it used figuratively to tell someone to calm down or slow down their pace of life: 'Du musst dich mal ein bisschen bremsen' (You need to slow yourself down a bit / take it easy). This versatility makes it one of those high-frequency verbs that bridges the gap between technical manual and casual conversation.
- News & Media
- Frequent use in headlines regarding economic slowdowns or legal restrictions (e.g., Mietpreisbremse - rent control).
- Daily Life
- Used when biking, driving, or warning children: 'Brems mal!' (Brake/Slow down!).
The most common mistake for English speakers is confusing bremsen with stoppen or anhalten. While they are related, they are not interchangeable. Bremsen specifically refers to the *process* of slowing down using a brake. If you have already come to a complete standstill, you have 'angehalten' (stopped). If you say 'Ich bremse am Bahnhof', it sounds like you are applying the brakes for a long time at the station, whereas 'Ich halte am Bahnhof an' means you are stopping there. Another error is the conjugation. Some learners try to treat it as a strong verb (like 'blasen' -> 'blies'), but 'bremsen' is strictly weak: 'bremste, gebremst'.
Falsch: Ich habe das Auto
gebremset. Richtig: Ich habe das Auto gebremst.
Another nuance is the difference between 'bremsen' and 'abbremsen'. While often used as synonyms, 'abbremsen' usually implies a more significant reduction in speed or a complete stop, whereas 'bremsen' is the general action. Furthermore, learners often forget that 'bremsen' can take a direct object in the accusative. You don't 'bremsen auf jemanden'; you 'bremsen jemanden aus' (to thwart someone) or simply 'jemanden bremsen' (to slow someone down). Misusing the prepositions is a frequent pitfall. Remember: you brake *for* something (für/wegen etwas) or *at* a certain point (vor/an etwas).
German has a rich vocabulary for the concept of slowing down. Depending on the context, you might want to use a more specific word than bremsen. For example, verlangsamen is the most direct synonym for 'to slow down' in a general sense, without necessarily implying the use of a mechanical brake. If you are talking about technical processes or engines, drosseln (to throttle/reduce) is more appropriate. In formal or scientific contexts, verzögern (to delay/decelerate) is the preferred term.
- verlangsamen
- General 'slowing down'. Example: 'Der Läufer verlangsamt sein Tempo.' (The runner slows his pace.)
- stoppen
- To come to a full stop. 'Bremsen' is the process leading to 'stoppen'.
- eindämmen
- Often used for fires, diseases, or crises. It means 'to contain' or 'to curb', similar to the metaphorical use of 'bremsen'.
When you want to describe someone being stopped in their tracks or outmaneuvered, the separable verb ausbremsen is perfect. In a racing context, it means to overtake someone by braking later into a corner. In a business context, it means to sabotage someone's plans. On the other hand, einbremsen is often used when a person is being too enthusiastic and needs to be brought back to reality. Choosing the right synonym adds precision and 'Flavour' to your German speech.
چقدر رسمی است؟
"Die Zentralbank muss das Geldmengenwachstum bremsen."
"Bitte bremsen Sie vor der Kurve."
"Brems dich mal ein bisschen!"
"Pass auf, brems mit deinem Fahrrad!"
"Der hat mich voll ausgebremst."
نکته جالب
The word 'Bremse' in German also means 'gadfly' (the insect). The mechanical brake was named after the insect's 'sting' or 'pinch' because it 'pinches' the wheel to stop it.
راهنمای تلفظ
- Pronouncing the 'r' like an English 'r'.
- Making the 'e' too long (like 'bray-msen').
- Forgetting the nasal quality of the final 'en'.
- Confusing the spelling with 'brennen' (to burn).
- Over-emphasizing the 's' like a 'z' sound.
سطح دشواری
Easy to recognize in texts due to its similarity to 'brake'.
Requires correct conjugation as a weak verb and understanding of separable prefixes.
Simple pronunciation, though the uvular 'r' takes practice.
Clear sound, but can be confused with 'brennen' in fast speech.
بعداً چه یاد بگیریم؟
پیشنیازها
بعداً یاد بگیرید
پیشرفته
گرامر لازم
Weak Verbs
bremsen - bremste - gebremst
Separable Prefixes
abbremsen (Ich bremse ab)
Accusative Object
Er bremst den Wagen.
Perfect Tense with 'haben'
Ich habe gebremst.
Subjunctive II for Hypothesicals
Hätte er gebremst, wäre nichts passiert.
مثالها بر اساس سطح
Ich bremse jetzt.
I am braking now.
Present tense, 1st person singular.
Du musst bremsen!
You must brake!
Modal verb 'müssen' + infinitive.
Das Auto bremst.
The car brakes.
3rd person singular.
Brems bitte!
Please brake!
Imperative form (informal).
Wir bremsen vor der Ampel.
We brake before the traffic light.
Preposition 'vor' + dative.
Warum bremst du nicht?
Why aren't you braking?
Question with 'warum'.
Das Fahrrad bremst gut.
The bicycle brakes well.
Adverb 'gut' modifying the verb.
Hier muss man bremsen.
One must brake here.
Impersonal 'man'.
Er hat zu spät gebremst.
He braked too late.
Perfect tense (Perfekt) with 'haben'.
Ich bremse immer vorsichtig.
I always brake carefully.
Adverb 'vorsichtig'.
Der Bus bremste an der Haltestelle.
The bus braked at the stop.
Simple past (Präteritum).
Können Sie bitte bremsen?
Can you please brake?
Polite 'Sie' form with modal verb.
Die Bremsen am Fahrrad sind kaputt.
The brakes on the bike are broken.
Noun 'die Bremsen' (plural).
Ich bremse, wenn ich die Katze sehe.
I brake when I see the cat.
Subordinate clause with 'wenn'.
Wir haben scharf gebremst.
We braked sharply.
Perfect tense with adverb 'scharf'.
Man sollte vor der Kurve bremsen.
One should brake before the curve.
Subjunctive II of 'sollen' for advice.
Die Krise bremst die Wirtschaft.
The crisis is slowing down the economy.
Metaphorical use with direct object.
Du solltest dein Tempo etwas bremsen.
You should slow down your pace a bit.
Figurative use for personal speed.
Das schlechte Wetter bremste unseren Fortschritt.
The bad weather slowed our progress.
Simple past, metaphorical.
Der Zug hat sanft abgebremst.
The train slowed down gently.
Separable verb 'abbremsen'.
Wir müssen die Kosten bremsen.
We must curb the costs.
Business context.
Er wurde durch seine Verletzung gebremst.
He was slowed down by his injury.
Passive voice.
Die Polizei bremste den Raser aus.
The police thwarted/stopped the speeder.
Separable verb 'ausbremsen'.
Bremsen Sie rechtzeitig vor dem Hindernis.
Brake in time before the obstacle.
Formal imperative.
Die Mietpreisbremse soll Mieter schützen.
The rent control (brake) is supposed to protect tenants.
Compound noun 'Mietpreisbremse'.
Hohe Zinsen bremsen oft die Inflation.
High interest rates often slow down inflation.
Economic terminology.
Er bremste seinen Übereifer etwas ein.
He curbed his over-enthusiasm a bit.
Separable verb 'einbremsen'.
Ohne zu bremsen, fuhr er über die Kreuzung.
Without braking, he drove across the intersection.
Infinitive construction with 'ohne zu'.
Der Fallschirm bremst den Fall des Springers.
The parachute slows the jumper's fall.
Scientific/Physical context.
Die Bürokratie bremst viele Innovationen.
Bureaucracy slows down many innovations.
Abstract subject.
Die Regierung hält an der Schuldenbremse fest.
The government is sticking to the debt brake.
Political compound noun.
Das System bremst sich bei Überhitzung selbst.
The system brakes itself in case of overheating.
Reflexive use.
Die mangelnde Infrastruktur bremst die ländliche Entwicklung aus.
The lack of infrastructure is hampering rural development.
Separable verb 'ausbremsen' in a sociological context.
Man darf den Forschergeist nicht durch zu viele Regeln bremsen.
One must not stifle the spirit of research with too many rules.
Metaphorical use of 'bremsen' for 'stifling'.
Die Nachricht bremste die allgemeine Euphorie merklich.
The news noticeably dampened the general euphoria.
Abstract psychological context.
Ein plötzlicher Wintereinbruch bremste den Verkehr landesweit.
A sudden onset of winter slowed traffic nationwide.
Environmental impact.
Er fühlte sich in seiner Karriere ausgebremst.
He felt stymied in his career.
Passive participle of 'ausbremsen'.
Die Notbremse wurde im letzten Moment gezogen.
The emergency brake was pulled at the last moment.
Idiomatic use of 'Notbremse ziehen'.
Technologische Hürden bremsen die Energiewende.
Technological hurdles are slowing down the energy transition.
Topic-specific vocabulary.
Sie versuchte, ihre Wut zu bremsen.
She tried to curb her anger.
Emotional regulation.
Die philosophische Skepsis bremste seinen Drang zur absoluten Gewissheit.
Philosophical skepticism tempered his urge for absolute certainty.
Highly abstract/academic use.
In einem Akt vorauseilenden Gehorsams bremste er die Kritik an der Führung.
In an act of anticipatory obedience, he stifled criticism of the leadership.
Complex socio-political phrasing.
Die schiere Komplexität des Vorhabens bremst jegliche Versuche einer schnellen Lösung.
The sheer complexity of the project thwarts any attempts at a quick solution.
Formal register.
Man muss die Dynamik der Märkte bisweilen regulatorisch bremsen.
One must occasionally slow market dynamics through regulation.
Economic theory.
Sein Zynismus bremste die aufkeimende Hoffnung im Keim.
His cynicism nipped the burgeoning hope in the bud (braked it in the germ).
Literary metaphor.
Die fiskalische Disziplin darf die notwendigen Investitionen nicht vollends bremsen.
Fiscal discipline must not completely stall necessary investments.
Advanced fiscal vocabulary.
Durch das gezielte Ausbremsen der Konkurrenz sicherte er sich das Monopol.
By systematically thwarting the competition, he secured the monopoly.
Gerund-like usage of 'Ausbremsen'.
Die Trägheit der Massen bremst oft den gesellschaftlichen Wandel.
The inertia of the masses often slows down societal change.
Sociological abstraction.
ترکیبهای رایج
عبارات رایج
die Notbremse ziehen
jemanden einbremsen
sich bremsen
ausgebremst werden
eine Bremsung machen
auf die Bremse treten
ungebremst
bremsbereit sein
die Mietpreisbremse
die Schuldenbremse
اغلب اشتباه گرفته میشود با
Brennen means 'to burn'. It looks similar but has no relation to stopping.
Stoppen is the end result; bremsen is the process of getting there.
Anhalten usually means to come to a stop and stay there (e.g., at a bus stop).
اصطلاحات و عبارات
"die Notbremse ziehen"
To stop something immediately before it goes wrong.
Die Regierung hat die Notbremse gezogen.
Common"jemanden ausbremsen"
To outmaneuver someone or prevent them from succeeding.
Er wurde im Wahlkampf ausgebremst.
Colloquial/Political"auf die Bremse treten"
To slow down a process or spend less money.
Wir müssen finanziell auf die Bremse treten.
Neutral"mit angezogener Handbremse"
With the handbrake on (doing something without full commitment or energy).
Die Mannschaft spielte mit angezogener Handbremse.
Idiomatic"eine Vollbremsung hinlegen"
To stop very suddenly (often used figuratively).
Die Wirtschaft hat eine Vollbremsung hingelegt.
Colloquial"die Bremse lösen"
To release the brake (to start moving or allow progress).
Endlich wurde die Bremse für das Projekt gelöst.
Metaphorical"nicht zu bremsen sein"
To be unstoppable.
Heute ist sie beim Sport nicht zu bremsen.
Common"jemanden bremsen"
To calm someone down or slow them down.
Brems dich mal ein bisschen!
Colloquial"eine Bremse für etwas sein"
To be a hindrance to something.
Hohe Steuern sind eine Bremse für Innovationen.
Formal"Bremsklotz sein"
To be a 'brake block' (someone who hinders progress).
Er ist ein echter Bremsklotz in unserem Team.
Colloquialبهراحتی اشتباه گرفته میشود
Almost identical meaning.
'Abbremsen' often implies slowing down to a specific lower speed or a full stop, whereas 'bremsen' is the general action.
Du musst die Geschwindigkeit abbremsen.
Contains 'bremsen'.
Used figuratively for thwarting someone or outmaneuvering them.
Die Konkurrenz hat uns ausgebremst.
Contains 'bremsen'.
Used for curbing someone's speed or enthusiasm.
Der Lehrer musste die wilden Schüler einbremsen.
Synonym.
More general; 'bremsen' implies a brake mechanism, 'verlangsamen' just means going slower.
Der Fluss verlangsamt seine Strömung.
Synonym.
Used for delays in time or technical deceleration.
Die Lieferung verzögert sich.
الگوهای جملهسازی
Ich + bremse.
Ich bremse.
Ich + habe + gebremst.
Ich habe gebremst.
Etwas + bremst + etwas.
Die Krise bremst den Export.
Man + muss + abbremsen.
Man muss vor der Kurve abbremsen.
Jemand + wird + ausgebremst.
Er wurde durch die Bürokratie ausgebremst.
Ohne + zu + bremsen
Er fuhr ohne zu bremsen weiter.
Es + gilt + zu + bremsen.
Es gilt, die Inflation nachhaltig zu bremsen.
Partizipialattribut
Das gebremste Wachstum sorgt für Sorgen.
خانواده کلمه
اسمها
فعلها
صفتها
مرتبط
نحوه استفاده
Very high in both spoken and written German.
حفظ کنید
روش یادسپاری
Think of a 'Bremse' (gadfly) biting your leg, making you stop and 'Brake'.
تداعی تصویری
Visualize a giant red 'B' shaped like a brake pedal being pressed down by a foot.
شبکه واژگان
چالش
Try to use 'bremsen' in three different ways today: once for a car, once for a bike, and once for your own energy level.
ریشه کلمه
Derived from Middle High German 'bremsen', which is related to the noun 'Bremse' (gadfly/brake). The original meaning was likely 'to pinch' or 'to sting'.
معنای اصلی: To pinch or to hold tight (like a gadfly stings or a clamp holds).
Germanic.بافت فرهنگی
No specific sensitivities, but be careful using 'ausbremsen' in a professional context as it can imply sabotage.
Similar to 'to brake', but German uses it more frequently in political compounds like 'Mietpreisbremse'.
تمرین در زندگی واقعی
موقعیتهای واقعی
Driving
- Vollbremsung machen
- sanft bremsen
- Bremsweg berechnen
- auf die Bremse treten
Economy
- die Inflation bremsen
- das Wachstum bremsen
- die Schuldenbremse einhalten
- Investitionen bremsen
Biking
- Rücktrittbremse
- Handbremse ziehen
- die Bremsen prüfen
- bergab bremsen
Social
- sich bremsen
- jemanden einbremsen
- die Euphorie bremsen
- ausgebremst werden
Physics
- Reibung bremst
- Luftwiderstand bremst
- die Geschwindigkeit bremsen
- negative Beschleunigung
شروعکنندههای مکالمه
"Musstest du schon mal eine Vollbremsung machen?"
"Findest du, dass die Schuldenbremse in Deutschland sinnvoll ist?"
"Wie oft prüfst du die Bremsen an deinem Fahrrad?"
"Was bremst dich in deinem Alltag am meisten aus?"
"Sollte man die Mietpreise in Großstädten stärker bremsen?"
موضوعات نگارش
Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du im letzten Moment gebremst hast.
Was sind die Faktoren, die deinen Lernprozess beim Deutschlernen bremsen?
Denkst du, wir müssen unseren Konsum bremsen, um die Umwelt zu schützen? Warum?
Wie fühlst du dich, wenn dich jemand in deinen Plänen ausbremst?
Schreibe über eine Reise, bei der der Zug oder das Auto ständig bremsen musste.
سوالات متداول
10 سوالIt is a weak (regular) verb. The forms are: bremsen, bremste, hat gebremst. It does not change its stem vowel like strong verbs do.
Bremsen is the action of slowing down using a brake. Stoppen is the act of coming to a complete halt. You brake *to* stop.
Yes, figuratively. 'Brems dich mal!' means 'Slow down!' or 'Calm down!'. You can also 'bremsen' someone's career or enthusiasm.
It is a 'debt brake', a legal limit on how much debt the German government can take on. It is a very common word in German news.
You say 'eine Vollbremsung machen' or 'scharf bremsen'.
Yes, in the perfect tense, it always uses 'haben': 'Ich habe gebremst'.
Yes, 'die Bremse'. The plural is 'die Bremsen'.
Yes, 'sich bremsen' means to restrain oneself or to control one's emotions or speed.
It means to outmaneuver someone (like in a race) or to thwart someone's plans in business or politics.
It is the 'braking distance'—the distance
Summary
Bremsen is a versatile German verb used to describe slowing down. Whether you're driving a car (Ich bremse) or discussing economic policy (Die Schuldenbremse), it conveys the act of applying restraint or reducing speed. Example: 'Man muss rechtzeitig bremsen.'
- The verb 'bremsen' means to brake or slow down, both physically and metaphorically.
- It is a weak verb conjugated as: bremse, bremste, hat gebremst.
- Commonly used in traffic contexts (cars, bikes) and economic/political discussions (restraint).
- Synonyms include 'verlangsamen' (to slow down) and 'stoppen' (to stop).
مثال
Er musste plötzlich bremsen, als ein Kind auf die Straße rannte.
محتوای مرتبط
واژههای بیشتر transport
abschleppen
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