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verb

zerspringen

shatter

Definition & meaning

zerspringen is an intransitive verb meaning:

  1. to shatter, splinter, or break into pieces, usually suddenly

    • Das Glas ist zersprungen. — “The glass has shattered.”
    • Die Fensterscheibe zersprang durch den Druck. — “The windowpane shattered because of the pressure.”

  2. to burst or split open, especially because of heat, pressure, or tension

    • Der Ballon zersprang mit einem lauten Knall. — “The balloon burst with a loud bang.”
    • Der Stein zersprang in mehrere Stücke. — “The stone split into several pieces.”

The verb generally describes something breaking by itself or as a result of external pressure. It is not normally used transitively; for “to shatter something,” German commonly uses zerbrechen {zerbrechen } or zerschlagen {zerschlagen }.

Grammar & Word origin

  • Infinitive: zerspringen {zerspringen }
  • Verb type: strong, intransitive verb
  • Present tense: es zerspringt
  • Simple past: es zersprang
  • Past participle: zersprungen
  • Perfect auxiliary: ist — es ist zersprungen

The word consists of:

  • zer- {zer- : a prefix expressing destruction, separation, or breaking apart
  • springen {springen }: “to jump” or “to spring”

Although springen {springen } is separable in some compounds, zer- is an inseparable prefix: Das Glas zerspringt, not Das Glas springt zer.

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms

  • zerbrechen {zerbrechen } — “to break” or “to shatter”; more general and can also be used transitively: Jemand zerbricht das Glas.
  • zerbersten {zerbersten } — “to burst apart” or “to shatter violently”; stronger and often associated with a loud or dramatic breaking.
  • zersplittern {zersplittern } — “to splinter”; emphasizes breaking into many small, sharp pieces.
  • platzen {platzen } — “to burst”; commonly used for balloons, pipes, blisters, or containers under pressure, but it does not necessarily imply breaking into fragments.

Antonyms

There is no single exact antonym. Depending on the context, possible opposites are:

  • ganz bleiben {ganz bleiben [?](vocabuo://word/ganz bleiben)} — “to remain intact”; the most direct opposite when referring to an object that does not break.
  • heil bleiben {heil bleiben [?](vocabuo://word/heil bleiben)} — “to stay undamaged.”
  • zusammenhalten {zusammenhalten } — “to hold together”; emphasizes the opposite of splitting apart.

Common phrases & collocations

  • ein Glas zerspringt {ein Glas zerspringt [?](vocabuo://word/ein Glas zerspringt)} — a glass shatters
  • eine Scheibe zerspringt {eine Scheibe zerspringt [?](vocabuo://word/eine Scheibe zerspringt)} — a pane cracks or shatters
  • in Stücke zerspringen {in Stücke zerspringen [?](vocabuo://word/in Stücke zerspringen)} — to shatter into pieces
  • durch den Druck zerspringen {durch den Druck zerspringen [?](vocabuo://word/durch den Druck zerspringen)} — to burst or shatter because of pressure
  • durch die Hitze zerspringen {durch die Hitze zerspringen [?](vocabuo://word/durch die Hitze zerspringen)} — to crack or shatter because of heat

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Examples

Die Eisstücke zersprangen laut, als sie ins warme Wasser fielen.verb

The pieces of ice shattered loudly when they fell into the warm water.

Bei großer Hitze kann Glas plötzlich zerspringen.verb

In extreme heat, glass can suddenly shatter.

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