German Conversation · Level 107
57 words
German word
abreißen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈapˌʁaɪ̯sən/
Meaning
- verbtear down
Example
Sie reißt das alte Haus ab.
She is tearing down the old house.
More examples
Der Eigentümer hat beschlossen, den alten Schornstein abzureißen.
The owner decided to tear down the old chimney.
Core concept
Walls, beams, and roofs are pulled away from a standing building until the structure collapses into rubble.
Common phrases
den Schornstein abreißen
tear down the chimney
einen Anbau abreißen
tear down an extension
eine Mauer abreißen
tear down a wall
Similar words
einreißen: The pulling down and complete removal of a building.
abbrechen: The breaking and removal of part of a building or structure.
demolieren: The destruction of a building or object until it loses its function.
abtragen: The gradual removal of layers or sections until they are gone.
Definition in German
ein Gebäude oder Bauwerk planmäßig oder gewaltsam in Teile entfernen oder niederreißen, sodass nur Trümmer verbleiben.
Word origin
Abreißen combines the separable prefix "ab-" meaning "away" or "off" with inherited Germanic "reißen" meaning "tear" or "pull".
Usage tips
- As a separable verb, "abreißen" places "ab" at the end of a main clause, as in "Sie reißt das Haus ab."