German Conversation · Level 74
60 words
German word
Verfall
Pronunciation
IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈfal/
Meaning
- masculine noundecay
Example
Nach Jahren des Verfalls war das Haus völlig verlassen.
After years of decay, the house was completely abandoned.
More examples
Viele Journalisten beklagen den Verfall der Sprache im Internet.
Many journalists lament the decay of language on the Internet.
Core concept
An abandoned facility grows cracked, rusty, and unusable while its former function gradually disappears.
Common phrases
der Verfall der Sprache
the decay of language
den Verfall stoppen
stop the decay
Similar words
Verwahrlosung: A neglected state in which dirt and damage make a place unsuitable for living or use.
Ruine: The surviving remains of a building after major destruction or collapse.
Zerfall: A gradual process in which a structure or system falls apart into separate parts.
Niedergang: A downward trend marked by steadily weakening strength, value, or success.
Definition in German
Verfall ist das langsame Zerfallen oder die Verschlechterung von Gegenständen, Gebäuden oder Einrichtungen.
Word origin
Verfall developed from the verb verfallen, whose prefix ver- marks a change of state and whose root is fallen, 'to fall'.
Usage tips
- Verfall is more formal than kaputt and describes a process or condition rather than simply stating that something is broken.
Other meanings
- declinenoun
- deteriorationnoun
Opposites
- Wiederaufbaureconstructionnoun
- Aufbaudevelopmentnoun
Related words
- verfallendecayverb