German Conversation · Level 152
29 words
German word
entzünden
Pronunciation
IPA/ɛntˈtsʏndn̩/
Meaning
- verblight
Example
Wir entzünden ein Lagerfeuer.
We light a campfire.
More examples
Er entzündete den Grill für das Barbecue.
He lit the grill for the barbecue.
Core concept
A spark starts a local fire that spreads through fuel or marks the onset of inflammation in tissue.
Common phrases
den Grill entzünden
light the grill
den Ofen entzünden
light the oven
Similar words
anzünden: Setting wood or another item alight using a match or lighter.
zünden: Igniting fireworks or an engine to make them operate.
entfachen: Making a small fire burn more strongly with air or added fuel.
Definition in German
eine Flamme entstehen lassen oder etwas in Brand setzen; im übertragenen Sinn: eine Gewebsentzündung auslösen
Word origin
Entzünden combines the prefix ent- with Germanic zünden, meaning to kindle, and its fire-starting sense extends to inflammation in tissue.
Usage tips
- Entzünden is a nonseparable verb, so the present form is 'er entzündet', unlike separable anzünden in 'er zündet die Kerze an'.
Other meanings
- inflameverb
Opposites
- auslöschenextinguishverb
- ausmachenput outverb
Related words
- Selbstentzündungself-ignitionnoun
- entzündlichflammableadjective