German word

zerreißen

Pronunciation

IPA/tsɛɐ̯ˈʁaɪ̯sən/

Meaning

  • verbtear

Example

Ich zerreiße das Papier.

I tear the paper.

Illustration for zerreißen (tear)

More examples

Die Trennung zerreißt sie.

The separation tears her apart.

Core concept

Hands pull a sheet apart until its connected surface becomes separate pieces, while a person can also feel torn between conflicting sides.

Common phrases

  • in Stücke zerreißen

    tear into pieces

  • einen Brief zerreißen

    tear up a letter

  • eine Freundschaft zerreißen

    tear a friendship apart

Similar words

reißen: To make a tear in paper, cloth, or another flexible material.
auseinanderreißen: To pull something apart into separate pieces from both sides.
zerfetzen: To tear paper or cloth into many small, ragged pieces.
aufreißen: To rip open a seal, bag, or similar surface to get inside.

Definition in German

etwas mit Gewalt durch Ziehen oder Zerren auseinanderreißen; auch übertragen einen innerlich zerrissenen Zustand ausdrücken

Word origin

The verb combines the prefix zer-, which marks breaking apart, with reißen, meaning to tear or pull.

Usage tips

  • The prefix zer- is inseparable, so the forms are zerreißt, zerriss, and zerrissen rather than forms with ge-.

Other meanings

  • ripverb
  • shredverb

Opposites

  • zusammenfügenjoin togetherverb
  • reparierenrepairverb

Related words

  • zerreißbartearableadjective
  • Zerreißprobeordealnoun

Word lists with this word