umknicken
twist
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Definition & meaning
umknicken is a separable German verb with two main meanings:
-
To twist or sprain one’s ankle/foot
It describes accidentally turning the foot, often while walking, running, or playing sports. This can cause pain or a sprain.- Ich bin beim Laufen umgeknickt. — “I twisted my ankle while running.”
- Sie ist mit dem Fuß umgeknickt. — “She twisted her foot.”
-
To bend, fold, or buckle over
It can also describe a physical object that bends sharply or collapses, especially at a weak point.- Der Stängel ist umgeknickt. — “The stem bent over.”
- Der dünne Pfosten knickte im Wind um. — “The thin post buckled in the wind.”
As a transitive verb, umknicken can mean to bend or fold something over:
- Er hat die Ecke des Papiers umgeknickt. — “He folded over the corner of the paper.”
Grammar & Word origin
- Infinitive: umknicken
- Verb type: separable, weak verb
- Present tense: ich knicke um
- Simple past: ich knickte um
- Perfect tense: ich bin umgeknickt when describing a person or object bending/collapsing; ich habe etwas umgeknickt when used transitively
- Past participle: umgeknickt
The verb consists of:
- um- — indicating a change of position, turning, or bending over
- knicken — “to bend,” “crease,” or “buckle”
The related noun is das Umknicken , meaning “twisting” or “bending over.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
- sich den Fuß vertreten — “to twist one’s foot”; colloquial and often used similarly to umknicken, though it focuses more on the resulting injury.
- sich den Knöchel verstauchen — “to sprain one’s ankle”; more medically specific and describes the injury rather than the accidental movement.
- einknicken — “to buckle” or “collapse”; close to umknicken for objects, but it can also describe a person giving in under pressure.
Antonyms
There is no single exact antonym. Depending on the context, possible opposites include:
- aufrecht bleiben — “to remain upright”
- gerade bleiben — “to stay straight”
- sich aufrichten — “to straighten up” or “to become upright”
Common phrases & collocations
- beim Laufen umknicken — to twist one’s ankle while running
- mit dem Fuß umknicken — to twist one’s foot
- mit dem Knöchel umknicken — to twist one’s ankle
- leicht umknicken — to twist one’s ankle slightly
- schwer umknicken — to badly twist one’s ankle
- einfach umknicken — to simply buckle or bend over, often describing an object
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Examples
Ich knicke beim Laufen im Wald leider oft um.verb
Unfortunately, I often twist my ankle while running in the forest.
Auf der Treppe bin ich umgeknickt.verb
I twisted my ankle on the stairs.
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