German word

stoßen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʃtoːsən/

Meaning

  • verbhit

Example

Das Auto stößt gegen die Leitplanke.

The car hits the guardrail.

Illustration for stoßen (hit)

More examples

Beim Spielen kann man leicht gegen den Tisch stoßen.

While playing, you can easily bump into the table.

Core concept

A forceful contact sends something or someone moving, while the same verb also describes running into a person or encountering something.

Common phrases

  • sich den Kopf stoßen

    bang one's head

  • gegen den Tisch stoßen

    bump into the table

  • gegen die Wand stoßen

    bump into the wall

Similar words

rempeln: To bump into someone and lightly push them, especially in a crowded place.
schubsen: To push someone forcefully with a hand or the body.
anstoßen: To make light contact that moves something or someone.
zusammenstoßen: For two or more people or objects to collide forcefully.

Definition in German

Durch Aufprall in Kontakt mit etwas kommen und dabei den Gegenstand oder die Person bewegen oder zurückstoßen.

Word origin

Stoßen descends from Old High German stōzan through Middle High German stōzen and preserves the older sense of forceful contact.

Usage tips

  • The preposition changes the meaning: gegen marks collision, while auf etwas stoßen commonly means to come across or discover something.

Other meanings

  • pushverb
  • come acrossverb
  • bump intoverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Stoßimpactnoun
  • die Stoßstangebumpernoun

Word lists with this word