German word

spalten

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃpaltən/

Meaning

  • verbsplit

Example

Die Firma spaltet die Abteilung in zwei Teams.

The company is splitting the department into two teams.

Illustration for spalten (split)

More examples

Die Debatte spaltete die Meinungen in der Bevölkerung.

The debate split public opinion.

Core concept

A unified object or group is cleaved along a boundary into distinct parts.

Common phrases

  • Meinungen spalten

    split opinions

  • in zwei Teile spalten

    split into two parts

Similar words

teilen: To share something or information among multiple people.
aufteilen: To break one whole into several organized sections.
trennen: To sever a connection and leave things apart.
aufspalten: To divide an existing structure into separate internal sections.

Definition in German

ein Ganzes klar in getrennte Teile zerlegen

Word origin

The verb comes from Old High German spaltan and is related to the German noun Spalt, meaning a crack or opening.

Usage tips

  • For a group that divides itself, German commonly uses sich spalten, as in Eine Partei spaltet sich.

Other meanings

  • divideverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Spaltungdivisionnoun
  • spaltbardivisibleadjective

Word lists with this word