01
blühen
to bloom
The process in which a plant produces blossoms.
example
Im Frühling blühen die Kirschbäume in den schönsten Farben.
In spring, the cherry trees bloom in the most beautiful colors.
blühen
to bloom / flourish
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
01 / 03
Usage tips
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'florieren' (to flourish) from the context. If the subject is not a plant, but something abstract like 'das Geschäft' (the business), 'die Kunst' (art), or 'die Fantasie' (the imagination), this metaphorical meaning is intended.
EXAMPLE
Im Mittelalter blühte der Handel zwischen den Städten.
In the Middle Ages, trade between the cities flourished.
Word family
The separable verb 'aufblühen' (to blossom/flourish) is also often used in this figurative meaning. It often emphasizes the beginning or the process of thriving.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Umzug in die neue Stadt ist sie richtig aufgeblüht.
After moving to the new city, she really blossomed.
Dative construction
This meaning has a fixed grammatical structure: the unpleasant event is in the nominative as the subject, while the person affected by it is in the dative. The structure is: Etwas (Nom.) blüht jemandem (Dat.) (something is in store for someone).
EXAMPLE
Wenn du jetzt nicht gehst, blüht dir eine Menge Ärger.
If you don't leave now, a lot of trouble is in store for you.
Negative meaning
Although 'blühen' (to bloom) sounds positive, this construction is always used for something unpleasant that awaits someone. It is often a warning or an ironic observation.
EXAMPLE
Wer ohne Ticket fährt, dem blüht eine hohe Geldstrafe.
Anyone who travels without a ticket has a heavy fine in store for them.
Compare with
blühen vs drohen
to threaten
'drohen' and 'blühen' can both express that something unpleasant is in store for someone. The difference lies in usage: 'drohen' sounds more general and emphasizes the danger or the possible negative event. 'blühen' is used in the form 'jemandem blüht etwas' (something is in store for someone), and it often sounds a bit more colloquial or slightly ironic. Learners may confuse the words because both can appear in sentences about future consequences. As a guide: 'eine Gefahr droht' (a danger is looming), but 'jemandem blüht eine unangenehme Folge' (an unpleasant consequence is in store for someone).
blühen
Nach dem Fehler blüht dem Team wahrscheinlich ein langes Gespräch mit dem Chef.
After the mistake, the team is probably in for a long conversation with the boss.
drohen
Wenn wir den Bericht nicht heute abgeben, droht uns eine Strafe.
If we don't submit the report today, we face a penalty.
In real life
Loading video examples...