German Conversation · Level 37
75 words
German word
starr
Pronunciation
IPA/ʃtaʁ/
Meaning
- adjectivestiff
Example
Ihre Hände sind starr vor Kälte.
Her hands are stiff from the cold.
More examples
Als sie die Nachricht hörte, stand sie starr vor Verblüffung.
When she heard the news, she stood stiff with astonishment.
Core concept
A body locked in place like a statue, with movement or expression unable to change.
Common phrases
starr vor Verblüffung
stiff with astonishment
starr vor Entsetzen
stiff with horror
starr vor Überraschung
stiff with surprise
Similar words
steif: Stiffened by cold or tiredness, with joints and muscles moving less smoothly.
unbeweglich: Fixed in position and unable to shift or change posture easily.
verkrampft: Held tight by nervous tension or pain, limiting the range of movement.
erstarrt: Frozen suddenly in posture or facial expression because of shock or cold.
Definition in German
bewegungslos und fest; im übertragenen Sinn für eine unbewegliche Haltung oder Mimik verwendbar.
Word origin
Starr is an inherited Germanic adjective, traced through Old High German starri and Middle High German star to modern German.
Usage tips
- The pattern "starr vor" takes the dative, as in "starr vor Kälte" for being stiff from cold.