verb

prellen

bounce · cheat · bruise

Das ist ein Vorgang beim Sport, bei dem man einen Ball immer wieder mit der Hand auf den Boden schlägt, damit er zurückkommt.

Definition & meaning

The German verb prellen has several distinct meanings depending on the context:

To bounce: In sports, particularly handball or basketball, it refers to the action of bouncing a ball against the ground with one's hand.
To cheat or defraud: It is commonly used in the context of "die Zeche prellen" , which means to leave a restaurant, bar, or taxi without paying the bill. It can also mean to swindle someone out of their money more generally.
To bruise or contuse: In a medical or physical context, it refers to sustaining a blunt force injury that results in a bruise or contusion, often affecting a joint or a bone (e.g., "sich das Knie prellen").

Grammar & Word origin

prellen is a regular (weak) verb. Its principal parts are:

Infinitive: prellen
Preterite: prallte
Past Participle: geprellt

The word originates from the Middle High German "prellen," which meant "to make something jump" or "to toss." It is closely related to the German adjective prall , which means taut, plump, or bulging, describing the state of something that might bounce or cause a rebound.