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B1 verb 9 min de lecture

zerdrücken

Exemples zerdrücken en 30 secondes
Explication zerdrücken in your Level:
At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'zerdrücken' means to mash or press something hard. You will mostly see it in very simple sentences about food. For example, 'Ich zerdrücke die Banane.' (I mash the banana). At this stage, don't worry too much about the complex 'zer-' prefix rules, but try to remember that the word stays together. Think of it as a 'cooking word.' You might use it when talking about helping in the kitchen or eating soft foods. It's a useful word if you're talking about babies eating mashed fruit. Just remember: press + break = zerdrücken.
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At the A2 level, you should start recognizing 'zerdrücken' as an inseparable verb. This means when you say 'I mash,' it's 'Ich zerdrücke,' and when you say 'I mashed,' it's 'Ich habe zerdrückt' (without the 'ge'). You can use it to describe simple accidents, like crushing a paper cup or a soft fruit in your bag. You should also be able to use it with modal verbs, like 'Kannst du bitte die Kartoffeln zerdrücken?' (Can you please mash the potatoes?). It's a step up from just 'drücken' (to press), as it describes the result of the action—the object is now changed or broken.
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At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'zerdrücken' correctly in various tenses, including the Präteritum (zerdrückte) and the Perfekt (hat zerdrückt). You should understand its specific use in recipes and more detailed descriptions of damage. For instance, you might explain why something is broken: 'Ich habe meine Brille zerdrückt, weil ich mich darauf gesetzt habe.' (I crushed my glasses because I sat on them). You should also begin to distinguish it from similar verbs like 'zerquetschen' (to squash) or 'ausdrücken' (to squeeze out). This is the level where you use the word to provide more detail in your daily life stories.
At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using 'zerdrücken' in the passive voice, which is very common for this verb. 'Die leeren Kartons müssen zerdrückt werden.' (The empty boxes must be crushed). You should also understand more abstract or technical uses, such as crushing a pill for medical reasons or mashing specific ingredients in a sophisticated recipe. Your vocabulary should now include synonyms, and you should know exactly why 'zerdrücken' is the better choice than 'stampfen' or 'pürieren' in a given context. You can also use it to describe physical sensations more vividly, like a crushing handshake.
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At the C1 level, you should have a nuanced understanding of 'zerdrücken' and be able to use it in more literary or metaphorical contexts, although it remains primarily a physical verb. You might use it to describe the crushing weight of a crowd or the way a delicate argument was 'mashed' by a lack of logic. You should also be aware of its role in word families and how the prefix 'zer-' functions across the German language to denote destruction. Your use of the word should be precise—knowing when a grape is 'zerquetscht' (squashed/messy) versus 'zerdrückt' (mashed/intentional).
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At the C2 level, you possess a native-like command of 'zerdrücken.' You can use it effortlessly in complex grammatical structures and recognize it in high-level literature where it might be used for stylistic effect. You understand the historical development of the 'zer-' prefix and can contrast 'zerdrücken' with rare or archaic synonyms. You can discuss the physics of 'zerdrücken' in a technical sense or use it in a highly idiomatic way to describe social or physical phenomena. The word is no longer just a vocabulary item but a tool for precise, evocative expression in both spoken and written German.
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Exemples

zerdrücken en 30 secondes

  • Zerdrücken means to mash or crush something using physical pressure until it loses its shape.
  • It is an inseparable verb, meaning the 'zer-' prefix never moves and the past participle is 'zerdrückt'.
  • Commonly used in cooking (mashing potatoes) or describing accidental damage (crushing glasses).
  • It differs from 'ausdrücken' (squeeze out) and 'zerquetschen' (squash messily).

The German verb zerdrücken is a powerful and specific word that describes the act of applying pressure to an object until it loses its shape, breaks into pieces, or becomes a soft, pulp-like mass. It is a compound verb consisting of the prefix zer- and the base verb drücken (to press). In German, the prefix zer- is particularly important because it always indicates destruction, dissolution, or falling apart into many pieces. Therefore, zerdrücken doesn't just mean to press something; it means to press it so hard that its original structure is destroyed.

Culinary Context
In the kitchen, this is the go-to word for mashing vegetables or fruits. If you are making mashed potatoes (Kartoffelbrei), you first boil the potatoes and then you zerdrücken them with a fork or a masher. It implies a manual, often rustic process compared to pürieren (to puree), which usually involves a machine like a blender.

Für eine gute Guacamole muss man die Avocado mit einer Gabel zerdrücken.

Translation: To make a good guacamole, you have to mash the avocado with a fork.
Accidental Destruction
Outside the kitchen, zerdrücken often describes accidents. If you sit on your glasses, you might zerdrücken them. If you put a soft peach at the bottom of a heavy shopping bag, it will be zerdrückt by the other items. It suggests a crushing force that ruins the item's utility or appearance.

Ich habe aus Versehen meine Brille im Rucksack zerdrückt.

The word also carries an emotional or metaphorical weight in certain contexts. While less common than physical mashing, one could speak of crushing a rebellion or crushing someone's hopes, though words like zerschlagen or zerstören are more frequent there. However, zerdrücken is perfect for the physical sensation of something being squeezed too hard, like a bug being crushed under a shoe or a flower being squeezed in a tight fist.

Synonym Nuance
Compare zerdrücken with zerquetschen. While often interchangeable, zerquetschen (to squash/squish) often implies a messier result with liquid coming out, whereas zerdrücken is more about the mechanical act of mashing into a paste or breaking the structure.

Die Tabletten müssen vor der Einnahme zerdrückt werden.

Using zerdrücken correctly requires an understanding of its grammar as an inseparable prefix verb. Unlike separable verbs (like aufmachen), the zer- prefix stays glued to the base verb drücken in all tenses and sentence structures. This makes it somewhat easier for learners because you don't have to worry about where to put the prefix at the end of the sentence.

Present Tense (Präsens)
The verb follows regular conjugation patterns for weak verbs.
• Ich zerdrücke (I mash)
• Du zerdrückst (You mash)
• Er/sie/es zerdrückt (He/she/it mashes)
• Wir zerdrücken (We mash)

Warum zerdrückst du die Beeren mit den Fingern?

Why are you mashing the berries with your fingers?

In the past tense, specifically the Perfekt, remember that inseparable verbs do not take the ge- prefix. The past participle of zerdrücken is simply zerdrückt. It uses the auxiliary verb haben because it is a transitive verb (it takes a direct object).

Der Koch hat den Knoblauch mit der Breitseite des Messers zerdrückt.

Passive Voice
Because zerdrücken often describes what happens to an object, the passive voice is very common. 'The potatoes are being mashed' becomes 'Die Kartoffeln werden zerdrückt.' This is especially useful in recipes or when describing damage where the perpetrator is unknown or irrelevant.

Die leeren Dosen sollten vor dem Recycling zerdrückt werden.

The empty cans should be crushed before recycling.

One nuance to watch for is the difference between zerdrücken and zusammendrücken. While zerdrücken implies destruction or mashing, zusammendrücken simply means to squeeze things together (like closing a gap or hugging someone tightly). If you zusammendrücken a sponge, it returns to its shape. If you zerdrücken a grape, it is gone forever.

Common Direct Objects
• Kartoffeln (potatoes)
• Bananen (bananas)
• Knoblauchzehen (garlic cloves)
• Insekten (insects)
• Pappkartons (cardboard boxes)
• Pillen/Tabletten (pills)

Pass auf, dass du die Eier im Korb nicht zerdrückst!

The word zerdrücken is a staple of everyday German life, appearing in very practical, hands-on situations. You are most likely to encounter it in the kitchen, at the pharmacy, or when discussing minor household mishaps. It is not a particularly formal word, nor is it slang; it is a standard, descriptive verb used by everyone from professional chefs to toddlers playing with clay.

In the Kitchen
If you watch German cooking shows or read recipes, you will see zerdrücken constantly. It is the specific instruction for making 'Stampfkartoffeln' (chunky mashed potatoes) or preparing ingredients for a sauce. A chef might say, 'Zerdrücken Sie den Knoblauch leicht mit dem Messer, um das Aroma freizusetzen' (Mash the garlic lightly with the knife to release the aroma).

In diesem Rezept muss man die gekochten Erbsen grob zerdrücken.

Medical and Health Contexts
Doctors or pharmacists often use this word when advising patients who have trouble swallowing pills. They might ask, 'Darf man diese Tablette zerdrücken?' (Are you allowed to crush this pill?). This is a crucial distinction, as some time-release medications should never be zerdrückt.

Die Krankenschwester hat die Pille für den Patienten zerdrückt.

You will also hear it in child-rearing contexts. Parents often tell their children not to zerdrücken their food or not to zerdrücken a ladybug they've found in the garden. It is a word that conveys the fragility of objects and the need for gentle handling. In literature, it can be used to describe someone's hand being squeezed too tightly in a handshake: 'Er zerdrückte fast meine Hand' (He almost crushed my hand).

At the Supermarket
If you are complaining about damaged goods, you might say to a clerk: 'Diese Packung Himbeeren ist völlig zerdrückt.' This immediately communicates that the fruit is no longer whole and is likely a mushy mess.

Wer hat das weiche Brot unter die schweren Konserven gelegt und zerdrückt?

Learning German verbs with prefixes can be tricky, and zerdrücken is no exception. The most frequent errors involve grammar, prefix choice, and confusing it with similar-sounding verbs. Understanding these pitfalls will help you sound more like a native speaker and avoid confusing your listeners.

The 'ge-' Trap
As mentioned before, zer- is an inseparable prefix. Many learners mistakenly apply the general rule for past participles and say gezerdrückt. This is incorrect. The correct form is zerdrückt. Remember: 'Be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, ver-, zer-' are the prefixes that never take 'ge-'.

Ich habe die Kartoffel gezerdrückt.
Ich habe die Kartoffel zerdrückt.

Confusing Prefix Meanings
Learners often mix up zerdrücken with ausdrücken.
• zerdrücken: To mash/crush (destruction).
• ausdrücken: To express (an opinion) or to squeeze out (juice from a lemon/a pimple).
If you say you want to 'zerdrücken' a lemon, people will think you want to mash the whole fruit into a pulp, rather than just getting the juice out.

Man drückt eine Zitrone aus, aber man zerdrückt eine Banane.

Word order is another area for caution. Because zerdrücken is inseparable, the prefix never detaches. A common error for English speakers is trying to treat it like a separable verb: Ich drücke die Kartoffel zer. This is fundamentally wrong in German. The verb always stays together: Ich zerdrücke die Kartoffel.

The 'Quetschen' Confusion
While zerquetschen and zerdrücken are very close, zerquetschen is more violent. If you 'zerquetschen' your finger in a door, it's a serious injury. If you 'zerdrücken' something, it's often intentional (cooking) or a lighter form of crushing. Using zerquetschen for potatoes sounds a bit aggressive!

Ich habe mir den Finger in der Tür gequetscht (not zerdrückt).

German is famous for its precision, and there are several words that are related to zerdrücken but offer slightly different shades of meaning. Choosing the right one depends on the object you are acting upon and the intensity of the force used.

zerdrücken vs. zerquetschen
zerdrücken: To mash or press into a mass (often potatoes, bananas). It feels more controlled.
zerquetschen: To squash or crush, often resulting in liquid or a flatter, messier shape (like a bug or a grape). It feels more forceful.

Man zerdrückt die Kartoffeln für den Brei, aber man zerquetscht eine Mücke an der Wand.

zerdrücken vs. stampfen
stampfen: To stomp or pound. This is used for 'Stampfkartoffeln'. It implies a vertical, heavy motion, often with a specialized tool (a masher/Stamper). zerdrücken is more general and can be done with a fork.
Other 'zer-' Verbs
• zermahlen: To grind into powder (like coffee beans).
• zerschlagen: To smash into pieces (like a vase).
• zerreißen: To tear into pieces (like paper).
• zerkauen: To chew up thoroughly.

Der Pfeffer wird im Mörser zerstoßen, nicht nur zerdrückt.

'Zerstoßen' (to pound/pestle) is even more specific for spices.

When talking about emotions, you might use erdrücken (to smother or overwhelm). For example, 'Die Sorgen erdrücken mich' (The worries are smothering me). Note how the prefix er- changes the meaning from physical destruction to a feeling of being weighed down. In summary, use zerdrücken when physical pressure leads to the loss of a solid object's shape, especially in cooking or accidental crushing.

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Exemples par niveau

1

Ich zerdrücke die Banane.

I mash the banana.

Present tense, first person singular.

2

Zerdrückst du die Kartoffel?

Are you mashing the potato?

Question form, second person singular.

3

Das Kind zerdrückt die Beere.

The child mashes the berry.

Third person singular.

4

Wir zerdrücken das Obst.

We mash the fruit.

First person plural.

5

Zerdrückt das Essen nicht!

Don't mash the food!

Imperative plural.

6

Er zerdrückt ein Blatt.

He mashes a leaf.

Simple transitive sentence.

7

Sie zerdrückt die Pille.

She mashes the pill.

Subject-Verb-Object.

8

Ich will den Keks zerdrücken.

I want to mash the cookie.

Modal verb 'wollen' with infinitive.

1

Ich habe die Erdbeere zerdrückt.

I mashed the strawberry.

Perfekt tense, no 'ge-' prefix.

2

Kannst du den Knoblauch zerdrücken?

Can you mash the garlic?

Modal verb 'können'.

3

Die Schachtel ist zerdrückt.

The box is crushed.

Adjectival use of the past participle.

4

Warum hast du den Becher zerdrückt?

Why did you crush the cup?

Perfekt tense question.

5

Man muss die Avocado zerdrücken.

One must mash the avocado.

Impersonal 'man' with modal verb.

6

Er hat die Fliege zerdrückt.

He mashed the fly.

Perfekt tense.

7

Sie zerdrückte das Papier.

She crumpled/mashed the paper.

Präteritum (simple past).

8

Wir haben die Dosen zerdrückt.

We crushed the cans.

Perfekt tense plural.

1

Ich habe aus Versehen meine Brille im Rucksack zerdrückt.

I accidentally crushed my glasses in my backpack.

Use of 'aus Versehen' (by accident).

2

Die Kartoffeln werden mit einer Gabel zerdrückt.

The potatoes are being mashed with a fork.

Passive voice present.

3

Wenn man die Tablette zerdrückt, wirkt sie schneller.

If you mash the pill, it works faster.

Conditional 'wenn' clause.

4

Er zerdrückte die Zigarette im Aschenbecher.

He crushed the cigarette in the ashtray.

Präteritum.

5

Die weichen Tomaten wurden im Beutel zerdrückt.

The soft tomatoes were crushed in the bag.

Passive voice past (Präteritum).

6

Du solltest den Karton zerdrücken, bevor du ihn wegwirfst.

You should crush the box before you throw it away.

Konjunktiv II (should).

7

Sie zerdrückte eine Träne in ihrem Augenwinkel.

She wiped away (lit. crushed) a tear in the corner of her eye.

Metaphorical/Physical action.

8

Die Beeren sind ganz zerdrückt und matschig.

The berries are completely crushed and mushy.

Participle as adjective.

1

Die leeren Plastikflaschen müssen platzsparend zerdrückt werden.

The empty plastic bottles must be crushed to save space.

Passive voice with modal verb.

2

Er zerdrückte den Käfer, ohne darüber nachzudenken.

He crushed the beetle without thinking about it.

Infinitivsatz with 'ohne... zu'.

3

Die mühsam gebaute Sandburg wurde von den Wellen zerdrückt.

The laboriously built sandcastle was crushed by the waves.

Passive voice with 'von' (by).

4

Man darf diese Kapseln auf keinen Fall zerdrücken.

You must not crush these capsules under any circumstances.

Modal verb 'dürfen' in the negative.

5

Sie zerdrückte die Kräuter im Mörser, um das Aroma zu intensivieren.

She mashed the herbs in a mortar to intensify the aroma.

Finalsatz with 'um... zu'.

6

Durch das schwere Gewicht wurde die Packung zerdrückt.

The package was crushed by the heavy weight.

Passive voice indicating cause.

7

Er hat fast meine Hand zerdrückt, als er mich begrüßte.

He almost crushed my hand when he greeted me.

Adverb 'fast' with Perfekt.

8

Die Früchte wurden zu einem feinen Mus zerdrückt.

The fruits were mashed into a fine puree.

Preposition 'zu' indicating result.

1

Die fragile Struktur des Modells wurde beim Transport zerdrückt.

The fragile structure of the model was crushed during transport.

Noun-adjective combination with passive voice.

2

Mit einem kräftigen Druck zerdrückte er das Metallgehäuse.

With a strong push, he crushed the metal housing.

Instrumental phrase with 'Mit'.

3

Die Beeren müssen vorsichtig zerdrückt werden, damit der Saft austritt.

The berries must be carefully mashed so that the juice comes out.

Nebensatz with 'damit'.

4

Er zerdrückte den Zettel vor Wut und warf ihn in die Ecke.

He crumpled (crushed) the note in anger and threw it into the corner.

Präteritum with emotional context.

5

Die weiche Konsistenz erlaubt es, die Masse leicht zu zerdrücken.

The soft consistency allows the mass to be easily mashed.

Infinitive construction with 'erlauben'.

6

In der Menschenmenge wurde ich fast zerdrückt.

I was almost crushed in the crowd.

Passive voice expressing a personal experience.

7

Die Kapsel ist so konstruiert, dass man sie nicht zerdrücken kann.

The capsule is designed so that it cannot be crushed.

Consecutive 'so... dass' clause.

8

Er zerdrückte die Knoblauchzehe fachmännisch mit der Klinge.

He expertly mashed the garlic clove with the blade.

Adverb 'fachmännisch' (expertly).

1

Die schiere Last der Verantwortung schien ihn förmlich zu zerdrücken.

The sheer weight of responsibility seemed to literally crush him.

Metaphorical use with 'scheinen... zu'.

2

Das zarte Gewebe wurde unter dem Mikroskop beinahe zerdrückt.

The delicate tissue was nearly crushed under the microscope.

Scientific context with passive voice.

3

Es ist eine Kunst, die Trauben so zu zerdrücken, dass die Kerne heil bleiben.

It is an art to mash the grapes such that the seeds remain intact.

Substantivized infinitive construction.

4

Die Blechdose wurde durch den hydraulischen Druck völlig zerdrückt.

The tin can was completely crushed by the hydraulic pressure.

Technical cause and effect.

5

Jeglicher Widerstand wurde von der schieren Übermacht zerdrückt.

Any resistance was crushed by the sheer superior force.

Abstract/Military metaphor.

6

Die reifen Feigen waren so empfindlich, dass sie beim bloßen Anfassen zerdrückten.

The ripe figs were so delicate that they mashed at the mere touch.

Intransitive-like usage (reflexive implied).

7

Er zerdrückte das Insekt mit einer Mischung aus Ekel und Effizienz.

He crushed the insect with a mixture of disgust and efficiency.

Descriptive prepositional phrase.

8

Die antike Vase wurde im Handgemenge unwiederbringlich zerdrückt.

The antique vase was irretrievably crushed in the scuffle.

High-level vocabulary like 'unwiederbringlich'.

Synonymes

zerquetschen stampfen maischen pürieren zerstoßen zermalmen plattdrücken zerknittern

Antonymes

aufpumpen glätten heilen zusammenfügen

Collocations courantes

Kartoffeln zerdrücken
Knoblauch zerdrücken
Tabletten zerdrücken
Dosen zerdrücken
eine Fliege zerdrücken
mit der Gabel zerdrücken
aus Versehen zerdrücken
völlig zerdrückt
leicht zerdrücken
im Mörser zerdrücken

Phrases Courantes

etwas zu Brei zerdrücken

— To mash something into a pulp or mash.

Die Bananen wurden zu Brei zerdrückt.

den Widerstand zerdrücken

— To crush resistance (metaphorical).

Der Diktator wollte jeden Widerstand zerdrücken.

eine Träne zerdrücken

— To blink away or wipe away a tear.

Sie versuchte, eine Träne zu zerdrücken.

die Hand zerdrücken

— To squeeze someone's hand very hard.

Er zerdrückte mir fast die Hand beim Händeschütteln.

flach zerdrücken

— To crush something until it is flat.

Die Kartons müssen flach zerdrückt werden.

mit dem Fuß zerdrücken

— To crush something with one's foot.

Er zerdrückte die leere Dose mit dem Fuß.

zwischen den Fingern zerdrücken

— To mash something between the fingers.

Er zerdrückte die kleine Beere zwischen den Fingern.

im Keim zerdrücken

— To nip something in the bud (crush it while it's small).

Die Revolution wurde im Keim zerdrückt.

die Brille zerdrücken

— To crush one's glasses (a very common mishap).

Ich habe meine Brille im Schlaf zerdrückt.

Obst zerdrücken

— To mash fruit.

Für das Kind müssen wir das Obst ze

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