German Conversation · Level 109
45 words
German word
irritieren
Pronunciation
IPA/ɪʁiˈtiːʁən/
Meaning
- verbconfuse
Example
Seine Frage irritierte mich.
His question confused me.
More examples
Die widersprüchlichen Aussagen irritierten die Zuhörer.
The contradictory statements confused the audience.
Core concept
An unexpected remark knocks someone's mental bearings off course without necessarily making that person angry.
Common phrases
sich von einer Bemerkung irritieren lassen
be confused by a remark
jemanden mit einer Bemerkung irritieren
confuse someone with a remark
Similar words
verwirren: Obscure how things fit together, making sound judgment difficult.
verunsichern: Take away someone's sense of certainty about a decision or position.
stören: Break up and impede the flow of work or conversation.
Definition in German
etwas oder jemand bringt eine Person in Unsicherheit oder verwirrt sie, meist ohne starke Ärgerreaktion
Word origin
The learned German verb irritieren derives from Latin irritare, 'to provoke or stimulate', with German usage extending to causing confusion or unease.
Usage tips
- English 'irritate' often suggests annoyance, while German irritieren can simply mean 'confuse', so 'verwirren' is clearer when confusion is the main point.