German word

verbreiten

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈbʁaɪ̯tən/

Meaning

  • verbspread

Example

Ich verbreite die Informationen im Freundeskreis.

I spread the information among my friends.

Illustration for verbreiten (spread)

More examples

Soziale Netzwerke können Gerüchte sehr schnell verbreiten.

Social networks can spread rumors very quickly.

Core concept

One message moves outward from a source and reaches a wide circle of people.

Common phrases

  • Gerüchte verbreiten

    spread rumors

  • Informationen verbreiten

    spread information

  • Ideen verbreiten

    spread ideas

Similar words

weitergeben: Pass on information that was heard or received to another person.
weiterleiten: Forward a received email or message unchanged to another person.
teilen: Share information or a post within a personal online network.
veröffentlichen: Make a document or article public for wide access.

Definition in German

etwas (z. B. Informationen oder Ideen) so bekannt machen, dass viele Menschen davon erfahren.

Word origin

Verbreiten combines the prefix ver- with the adjective breit, 'wide', and the verb-forming ending -en, giving the sense of making something wide in reach.

Usage tips

  • Verbreiten is transitive with an accusative object, as in Informationen verbreiten, while sich verbreiten describes information or ideas spreading on their own.

Other meanings

  • popularizeverb
  • circulateverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Verbreitungdisseminationnoun
  • verbreitbarspreadableadjective
  • verbreitendspreadingadjective

Word lists with this word