01
bremsen
brake
To reduce the speed of a vehicle or a movement, or bring it to a stop.
example
Der Autofahrer musste vor dem Zebrastreifen stark bremsen.
The driver had to brake hard before the crosswalk.
bremsen
to brake / slow down
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'bremsen' (to brake) is closely related to the noun 'die Bremse' (the brake). When you brake, you use a vehicle's brake.
EXAMPLE
Die Bremsen an meinem Fahrrad sind neu, deshalb bremst es sehr gut.
The brakes on my bike are new, so it brakes very well.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, you can also slow down abstract things. Typical objects here are developments or processes such as 'das Wachstum' (growth), 'der Fortschritt' (progress), or 'die Nachfrage' (demand).
EXAMPLE
Die Bürokratie bremst viele wichtige Bauprojekte.
Bureaucracy slows down many important construction projects.
Reflexive use
The reflexive form 'sich bremsen' means to restrain or control oneself. The reflexive pronoun is in the accusative.
EXAMPLE
Sie wollte eine wütende E-Mail schreiben, aber sie hat sich im letzten Moment gebremst.
She wanted to write an angry email, but she held herself back at the last moment.
Compare with
bremsen vs Gas
gas
'Gas geben' and 'bremsen' form a clear contrast when driving. When you 'Gas gibst', a vehicle becomes faster. When you brake, it becomes slower or stops. Here, 'Gas' does not mean the substance, but the action at the gas pedal. 'bremsen' is used for reducing speed. So the contrast is: to make something faster or to make it slower.
bremsen
Samir bremst sofort, weil ein Kind auf die Straße läuft.
Samir brakes immediately because a child runs into the street.
Gas
Auf der freien Straße gibt der Fahrer vorsichtig Gas.
On the open road, the driver carefully accelerates.
In real life
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