German word

verunglücken

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈʊnglʏkn̩/

Meaning

  • verbdie in an accident

Example

Bei dem Unfall sind drei Menschen verunglückt.

Three people died in the accident.

Illustration for verunglücken (die in an accident)

More examples

Bei einem Arbeitsunfall verunglückte ein Kollege.

A colleague died in a workplace accident.

Core concept

A journey breaks into misfortune, leaving its travelers injured or dead.

Common phrases

  • bei einem schweren Unfall verunglücken

    die in a serious accident

  • bei einem Arbeitsunfall verunglücken

    die in a workplace accident

Similar words

ums Leben kommen: Lose one's life in an accident or other event, in an established set phrase.
umkommen: Die because of an accident, disaster, or similarly dangerous event.
sterben: No longer be alive, whether from illness, age, or another cause.
versterben: Pass away, as a softer and more respectful way to describe death.

Definition in German

bei einem Unfall ums Leben kommen

Word origin

Verungluecken derives from Unglueck through the prefix ver- and came to denote being involved in a serious accident.

Usage tips

  • In news reports, verungluecken can soften a statement about death, but it can also refer to serious injury without stating that someone died.

Other meanings

  • have an accidentverb

Opposites

Related words

  • das Verunglückendying in an accidentnoun
  • verunglücktdead from an accidentadjective

Word lists with this word