German Conversation · Level 92
59 words
German word
plagen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈplaːgən/
Meaning
- verbbother
Example
Seine Fragen plagen mich oft.
His questions often bother me.
More examples
Alte Erinnerungen plagen ihn noch immer.
Old memories still bother him.
Core concept
An ongoing affliction keeps wearing a person down rather than causing only a brief annoyance.
Common phrases
alte Erinnerungen plagen jemanden
Old memories bother someone
ein schlechtes Gewissen plagen jemanden
a guilty conscience bothers someone
Wirtschaftskrise plagen ein Land
an economic crisis troubles a country
Similar words
nerven: Irritates someone repeatedly through persistent actions or sounds.
ärgern: Makes someone angry or puts them in a bad mood.
belasten: Places a mental or physical burden on someone.
quälen: Causes prolonged suffering that becomes difficult to endure.
Definition in German
jemanden durch etwas über längere Zeit leiden lassen
Word origin
The modern verb plagen developed from the older German verb plagen, which described causing pain or distress before acquiring broader figurative uses.
Usage tips
- The reflexive form sich mit etwas plagen describes struggling with an ongoing problem, while sich plagen is not simply the passive of plagen.