German word

sprengen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃprɛŋən/

Meaning

  • verbblast

Example

Wir sprengen den Felsen, um einen Tunnel zu bauen.

We are blasting the rock to build a tunnel.

Illustration for sprengen (blast)

More examples

Die Firma will den alten Stollen kontrolliert sprengen.

The company intends to blast the old adit in a controlled manner.

Core concept

A rigid boundary gives way under force, sending its contents or pieces beyond the original space.

Common phrases

  • einen Tunnel sprengen

    blast a tunnel

  • einen Stollen sprengen

    blast an adit

Similar words

explodieren: Break apart violently from internal pressure or a chemical reaction.
detonieren: Undergo a rapid explosive chemical reaction that creates a strong shock.
aufsprengen: Force open a door or wall by blowing it apart with explosives.
zerstören: Ruin an object or building so it can no longer serve its purpose.

Definition in German

mit Sprengstoff oder großer Wucht etwas zerstören oder so beschädigen, dass Teile weggeschleudert werden; übertragen: etwas die üblichen Grenzen überschreiten

Word origin

German sprengen continues Old High German sprengan, a Germanic verb meaning to make something spring or burst apart.

Usage tips

  • Sprengen is normally transitive for causing a target to break apart, while an explosion itself is described with explodieren.

Other meanings

  • blow apartverb
  • burstverb
  • break upverb
  • exceedverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Sprengstoffexplosivenoun
  • Sprengladungexplosive chargenoun
  • Sprengmeisterblasting foremannoun

Word lists with this word