German word

kursieren

Pronunciation

IPA/kʊʁˈziːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbcirculate

Example

Gerüchte kursieren in der Stadt.

Rumors are circulating in the city.

Illustration for kursieren (circulate)

More examples

Im Internet kursieren derzeit viele Videos zu dem Vorfall.

Many videos about the incident are currently circulating on the internet.

Core concept

Information or goods keep moving through a community in an open loop, with no single person clearly controlling the movement.

Common phrases

  • Gerüchte kursieren

    rumors circulate

  • Informationen kursieren

    information circulates

  • Im Internet kursieren

    circulate on the internet

Similar words

zirkulieren: To circulate within an organized system, network, or set of documents.
umgehen: To pass from one person to another, especially as a rumor or report.
sich verbreiten: To gradually reach more people, places, or areas.
verbreiten: To intentionally make information or ideas known to more people.

Definition in German

Im Umlauf sein; etwas kursiert, wenn Informationen, Gerüchte oder Waren ohne eindeutig zuordenbaren Urheber mehrfach weitergegeben werden.

Word origin

Kursieren is a learned verb of Latin origin related to the idea of running or moving along a course, rather than a native German compound.

Usage tips

  • The subject of kursieren is usually the thing being passed around, as in Geruechte kursieren in der Stadt, not the people who pass it on.

Other meanings

  • spreadverb
  • be disseminatedverb

Opposites

Related words

  • kursierendcirculatingadjective
  • das Kursierencirculationnoun

Word lists with this word