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verb

brodeln

seethe · simmer

Definition & meaning

brodeln means to bubble or boil vigorously, often with a low, rumbling sound. It is used of liquids heated until they bubble.

It also has figurative meanings:

  • to seethe or simmer with strong emotion, such as anger or excitement.
  • to be full of unrest or tension, especially when trouble seems likely but has not yet openly erupted.

Grammar & Word origin

brodeln is a regular, intransitive verb: brodeln – brodelte – hat gebrodelt. It generally takes haben as its auxiliary. The verb is expressive in origin, evoking the bubbling or rumbling sound of a boiling liquid.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms depend on the sense:

  • blubbern means to bubble, usually emphasizing the sound or small, distinct bubbles.
  • kochen means to boil; it is the more general term and does not necessarily suggest loud or turbulent bubbling.
  • wallen means to surge or roll, often describing turbulent movement or intense emotion.
  • schwelen means to smolder or simmer beneath the surface, especially of conflict or anger.
  • rumoren means to rumble or stir with unrest, usually figuratively.

There is no single exact antonym. Depending on context, abkühlen (“to cool down”) contrasts with a liquid’s boiling, while sich beruhigen (“to calm down”) contrasts with figurative unrest or emotion.

Common phrases & collocations

  • Das Wasser brodelt. — “The water is bubbling.”
  • Die Suppe brodelt im Topf. — “The soup is bubbling in the pot.”
  • Es brodelt in der Bevölkerung. — “There is growing unrest among the population.”
  • In ihm brodelte die Wut. — “Anger was seething inside him.”

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Examples

Der Topf beginnt zu brodeln.verb

The pot starts to seethe.

Langsam brodelt das Wasser im Kochtopf.verb

Slowly, the water simmers in the cooking pot.

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