01
betrunken
drunk
Being in a state in which behavior and perception are affected by the consumption of alcohol.
example
Nach drei Bier war er schon sichtlich betrunken.
After three beers, he was already visibly drunk.
betrunken
drunk
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word structure
'Betrunken' (drunk) is the past participle of the reflexive verb 'sich betrinken' (to get drunk). It is almost always used as an adjective to describe a state.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich auf der Party gestern Abend ziemlich betrunken.
He got pretty drunk at the party last night.
Typical verbs
'Betrunken' (drunk) is usually combined with the verbs 'sein' (to be, state) or 'werden' (to become, process).
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, dass du nicht zu schnell betrunken wirst.
Be careful that you don't get drunk too quickly.
Register
The word 'betrunken' (drunk) is the neutral standard expression. It can be used both in everyday conversations and in more formal contexts, such as a police report.
EXAMPLE
Der Fahrer des Wagens war zum Unfallzeitpunkt betrunken.
The driver of the car was drunk at the time of the accident.
Figurative meaning
In the figurative sense, 'betrunken' (drunk) is always used with the preposition 'von' and a feeling or abstract concept in the dative. It describes a state of emotional overwhelm.
EXAMPLE
Er war betrunken vom Erfolg und fühlte sich unbesiegbar.
He was drunk with success and felt invincible.
Compare with
betrunken vs voll
full
'voll' and 'betrunken' can both describe the state of having had too much alcohol. 'Betrunken' is the normal and clear word for this. It fits everyday language, but also more serious situations, for example with the police, a doctor, or family. 'Voll' is colloquial in this sense and sounds more casual or sometimes a bit rough. If you want to speak neutrally and clearly, 'betrunken' is better. 'Voll' is more likely to be used among friends or in informal conversations.
betrunken
Herr Becker fährt nicht mehr Auto, wenn er betrunken ist.
Mr. Becker no longer drives when he is drunk.
voll
Nach der Feier war er so voll, dass er ein Taxi genommen hat.
After the party, he was so drunk that he took a taxi.
In real life
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