drowning
das Ertrinken
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drowning
The process in which a person or animal gets under water and dies or is put in danger of dying because of a lack of air.
Der Rettungsschwimmer verhinderte das Ertrinken des Kindes.
The lifeguard prevented the child from drowning.
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| genitive | des Ertrinkens |
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Ertrinken | – |
| accusative | das Ertrinken | – |
| dative | dem Ertrinken | – |
| genitive | des Ertrinkens | – |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
'Das Ertrinken' (drowning) is the nominalized infinitive of the verb 'ertrinken' (to drown). Therefore, the word is capitalized and can be used like a noun with an article or preposition.
Beim Ertrinken verlieren Menschen oft schnell die Orientierung.
When drowning, people often quickly lose their sense of direction.
A common collocation is 'jemanden vor dem Ertrinken retten' (to save someone from drowning) or 'jemanden vor dem Ertrinken bewahren' (to keep someone from drowning). In this fixed expression, 'vor' is followed by the dative.
Ein Passant bewahrte den Jungen vor dem Ertrinken.
A passerby saved the boy from drowning.
'Das Ertrinken' (drowning) occurs particularly often in texts about water rescue, swimming safety, and accidents. Typical collocations are 'das Ertrinken verhindern' (to prevent drowning) and 'die Gefahr des Ertrinkens' (the danger of drowning).
Schwimmwesten können das Ertrinken bei einem Unfall verhindern.
Life jackets can prevent drowning in an accident.
