erschrecken

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See also: Erschrecken

German

Etymology

er- +‎ schrecken

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɛʁˈʃʁɛkən/, ,
  • Hyphenation: er‧schre‧cken
  • Audio:(file)

Verb

erschrecken (class 4 strong, third-person singular present erschrickt, past tense erschrak, past participle erschrocken, past subjunctive erschräke, auxiliary sein or (colloquial) haben)

  1. (standard, intransitive) to be frightened; to be startled
    Ich bin erschrocken.I got scared.
  2. (chiefly colloquial, reflexive) to be frightened; to be startled
    Ich habe mich erschrocken.I got scared.
  3. (dated, transitive) to frighten; to scare (someone)
    • Heinrich von Kleist, Mädchenrätsel
      Bebt er, ihr Schwestern, was, / Redet, erschrickt ihn?
      When he quakes, you sisters, what, / Speak, scares him?

Usage notes

In the modern standard language there is a split between the strong intransitive verb and the weak transitive/reflexive verb (see below). However, the strong verb may also be used reflexively, albeit chiefly in the vernacular. In older German, the strong verb was even used transitively.

Conjugation

Verb

erschrecken (weak, third-person singular present erschreckt, past tense erschreckte, past participle erschreckt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive) to frighten; to scare (someone)
    Du hast mich erschreckt.You scared me.
  2. (reflexive) to be frightened; to be startled
    Ich habe mich erschreckt.I got scared.

Conjugation

See also

Further reading