verderben
spoil
Wenn Essen schlecht wird und man es nicht mehr essen kann, oder wenn man jemandem den Spaß an einer Sache wegnimmt.
The German word "verderben" is a verb that means "to spoil" or "to ruin". It is made up of the prefix "ver-" and the verb "derben", which has roots in the notion of "to destroy" or "to damage". "Verderben" can refer to spoiling food, relationships, or plans.
Words with similar meanings include "zerstören" (to destroy), "ruinieren" (to ruin), and "kaputtmachen" (to break).
The differences lie mainly in context:
- "Zerstören" emphasizes complete destruction,
- "ruinieren" often relates to significant loss or degradation, and
- "kaputtmachen" is more colloquial, often describing physical damage.
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Examples
Zu hohe Temperaturen verderben oft frische Lebensmittel.verb
High temperatures often spoil fresh food.
Zu hohe Temperaturen verderben Lebensmittel schnell.verb
Too high temperatures spoil food quickly.
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