German Conversation · Level 119
43 words
German word
rächen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈʁɛçn̩/
Meaning
- verbavenge
Example
Er will seinen Bruder rächen.
He wants to avenge his brother.
More examples
Sie schwor, sich eines Tages an dem Täter zu rächen.
She swore to take revenge on the perpetrator one day.
Core concept
Someone responds to an insult or injustice by directing a harmful or punitive act toward the person held responsible.
Common phrases
sich rächen an jemandem
take revenge on someone
etwas rächen
avenge something
Similar words
Rache nehmen: To retaliate against someone for harm or an insult.
vergelten: To return harm or another action in response to what was done.
bestrafen: To punish someone for breaking a rule or committing a wrong.
Definition in German
Etwas tun, um ein erlittenes Unrecht oder eine Beleidigung zu vergelten.
Word origin
The verb rächen is a German derivation from Rache, and its meaning follows directly from the noun's association with revenge.
Usage tips
- For the cause or wrong being avenged, German commonly uses für plus the accusative, as in sich für eine Beleidigung rächen; the target appears with an plus the dative.