Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word
drohen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
drohen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
drohen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
drohen you have here. The definition of the word
drohen will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
drohen, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
German
Etymology
From Middle High German drōn, from Old High German drouwen; see dräuen (“to threaten”).
Pronunciation
Verb
drohen (weak, third-person singular present droht, past tense drohte, past participle gedroht, auxiliary haben)
- (transitive) to threaten
- Die Geschäftsleitung drohte der Belegschaft mit Lohnkürzung. ― The management threatened the employees with a pay cut.
- Sie drohte den Jugendlichen mit der Polizei. ― She threatened the youths with the police.
- Dann wurde ihm gedroht, sein Haus zu verwüsten. ― He was then threatened with having his house vandalised.
- (intransitive) to be threatened by something
- Nach den Überschwemmungen drohen wie immer Epidemien. ― As always, epidemics threaten after the floods.
- Es droht ein Unwetter. ― A thunderstorm is threatening.
- Ihr droht eine lange Haftstrafe. ― She is facing a long prison sentence. (literally, “a long prison sentence is threatening”)
- Bleibt die Behandlung aus, drohen schwere gesundheitliche Folgen. ― If treatment is not received, there is a risk of serious health consequences (literally, “serious health consequences are threatening”)
1931, Arthur Schnitzler, Flucht in die Finsternis, S. Fischer Verlag, page 125:Niemand konnte ihn hier vermuten, er hatte das Gefühl vollkommener Sicherheit, von keiner Seite drohte irgendwelche Gefahr.- Nobody could suppose him to be here, he had the feeling of complete security, from no side did any danger threaten him.
- (intransitive, with zu-infinitive) to be in danger of something, to be on the verge of something, to threaten
- Das Gebäude ist baufällig und droht einzustürzen. ― The building is dilapidated and in danger of collapsing.
- Die Friedensverhandlungen drohen zu scheitern. ― Peace negotiations threaten to fail.
Conjugation
Conjugation of
drohen (
weak, auxiliary
haben)
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Composed forms of
drohen (
weak, auxiliary
haben)
Derived terms
Further reading
- “drohen” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
- “drohen” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
- “drohen” in Duden online
- “drohen” in OpenThesaurus.de