German word

drohen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈdʁoːən/

Meaning

  • verbthreaten

Example

Sie droht ihm, die Polizei zu rufen.

She threatens to call the police.

Illustration for drohen (threaten)

More examples

Es droht ein Sturm.

A storm is threatening.

Core concept

Something negative presses close on the horizon, sometimes as a deliberate warning from a person.

Common phrases

  • jemandem mit etwas drohen

    threaten someone with something

  • mit Strafe drohen

    threaten with punishment

  • mit Kündigung drohen

    threaten with dismissal

Similar words

bedrohen: Threaten someone with possible harm or damage.
androhen: Threaten someone by clearly announcing a specific action or punishment.
einschüchtern: Make someone afraid and less confident through intimidating behavior or words.
warnen: Alert someone to danger or a possible problem so they can take care.

Definition in German

eine Person durch Androhung von Nachteilen einschüchtern; unpersönlich auch: von etwas Negativem ist bald zu erwarten (es droht ...)

Word origin

Drohen is an inherited Germanic verb preserved in older German as druōēn, with both personal threatening and impersonal impending senses in its development.

Usage tips

  • English loom matches only the impersonal impending sense; with a person as subject, drohen normally means threaten.

Other meanings

  • loomverb

Opposites

Related words

  • die Drohungthreatnoun
  • bedrohenthreatenverb
  • drohendthreateningadjective

Word lists with this word