verb
ertrinken
drown
The German word "ertrinken" is a verb meaning "to drown".
- It is made of the verb root "trinken" which means "to drink".
- The prefix "er-" often implies a completion or destruction, here indicating the fatal aspect of drowning.
Similar words:
- untergehen (to go under, sink)
- versinken (to sink)
- absaufen (colloquial, to drown/sink)
Differences:
- "Ertrinken" specifically refers to death by suffocation in water.
- "Untergehen" and "versinken" describe sinking but don't strongly imply death.
- "Absaufen" is informal and can emphasize both drowning and the act of sinking vessels or objects.
Ertrinken distinctly focuses on the fatal outcome due to water intake.
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Examples
Sie droht zu ertrinken, wenn sie nicht schwimmen kann.verb
She risks drowning if she can't swim.
Der Junge hat große Angst, im tiefen Wasser zu ertrinken.verb
The boy is very afraid of drowning in the deep water.
Der Wanderer wäre fast im Fluss ertrunken, aber jemand hat ihn rechtzeitig gerettet.verb
The hiker almost drowned in the river, but someone rescued him in time.
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