German word

verbrennen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈbʁɛnən/

Meaning

  • verbburn

Example

Ich verbrenne das Papier.

I am burning the paper.

Illustration for verbrennen (burn)

More examples

Beim Braten kann man schnell das Steak verbrennen.

When frying, you can quickly burn the steak.

Core concept

Heat eats into an object until its surface is charred or the whole object vanishes into ash.

Common phrases

  • Essen verbrennen

    burn food

  • Toast verbrennen

    burn toast

Similar words

brennen: Be on fire or burn because of heat.
anzünden: Set something alight so that it starts burning.
abbrennen: Burn a building or place down completely.
verkohlen: Become blackened and charred by heat.

Definition in German

etwas absichtlich oder unfreiwillig durch Feuer oder starke Hitze zerstören; nur die Oberfläche kann anbrennen oder alles verkohlen.

Word origin

Verbrennen developed from the prefix ver- attached to inherited Germanic brennen 'burn', expressing destructive burning rather than ordinary warmth from a flame.

Usage tips

  • In 'Ich verbrenne das Papier', verbrennen is transitive and means 'burn the paper'; the reflexive form 'sich verbrennen' refers to burning oneself.

Other meanings

  • incinerateverb
  • scorchverb
  • turn to ashverb

Opposites

  • garencookverb

Related words

Word lists with this word