German word

schmelzen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃmɛltsn̩/

Meaning

  • verbmelt

Example

Das Eis schmilzt in der Sonne.

The ice is melting in the sun.

Illustration for schmelzen (melt)

More examples

Bei seinem Lächeln konnte ich innerlich nicht anders, als schmelzen.

I couldn't help but melt inside at his smile.

Core concept

A solid substance loses its fixed shape and becomes liquid, while a guarded feeling can also soften.

Common phrases

  • in der Sonne schmelzen

    melt in the sunshine

  • Eis schmelzen

    melt ice

  • auf der Zunge schmelzen

    melt on the tongue

Similar words

tauen: To thaw naturally as increasing temperatures melt snow or ice into water.
auftauen: To thaw as frozen food or other items warm enough to become usable.

Definition in German

Vom festen in den flüssigen Zustand übergehen; auch bildlich für das Erweichen von Gefühlen gebraucht.

Word origin

German schmelzen continues Old High German smelzan and is related to English melt through a shared Germanic origin.

Usage tips

  • For snow and ice thawing naturally, German often uses tauen, as in Der Schnee taut, while schmelzen focuses on melting into liquid.

Other meanings

  • melt downverb

Opposites

Related words

  • geschmolzenmeltedadjective

Word lists with this word