das Verderben
ruin
The downfall, destruction, or complete loss of someone or something.
EXAMPLE
Der Krieg brachte großes Verderben über das Land.
The war brought great ruin upon the country.
das Verderben
ruin / spoilage
das Verderben, die Verderben
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Meanings
das Verderben
spoilage
The process by which food goes bad and becomes unfit to eat.
EXAMPLE
Die Hitze beschleunigt das Verderben der Lebensmittel.
The heat accelerates the spoilage of the food.
ins Verderben führen
to lead someone to ruin
To bring someone or something to ruin or into a difficult situation.
EXAMPLE
Seine Spielsucht führte ihn ins Verderben.
His gambling addiction led him to ruin.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry Verderben, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
At a glance
| gender | neuter das |
|---|---|
| plural | die Verderben |
| genitive | des Verderbens |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | das Verderben | die Verderben |
| accusative | das Verderben | die Verderben |
| dative | dem Verderben | den Verderben |
| genitive | des Verderbens | der Verderben |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Register note
In the sense of downfall or severe destruction, 'Verderben' (ruin) often sounds elevated or literary. Nevertheless, it is easy to understand in fixed expressions and serious texts.
EXAMPLE
Der Prophet warnte das Volk vor dem drohenden Verderben.
The prophet warned the people of the impending ruin.
Typical collocations
For the meaning 'Untergang oder Zerstörung' (downfall or destruction), verbs such as 'bringen' (to bring) and 'abwenden' (to avert) frequently occur with 'Verderben'. The expression 'jemandes Verderben sein' (to be someone's ruin) is also very common.
EXAMPLE
Sein Leichtsinn wird noch sein Verderben sein.
His carelessness will be his ruin.
Food context
When referring to food, 'Verderben' (spoilage) often occurs with information about the cause or prevention, for example with 'durch Hitze' (through heat), 'verhindern' (to prevent), or 'beschleunigen' (to accelerate). In this context, the word refers to a process rather than a sudden downfall.
EXAMPLE
Eine gute Kühlung kann das Verderben von frischem Fisch verhindern.
Proper refrigeration can prevent fresh fish from spoiling.
Fixed expression
In 'ins Verderben führen' (to lead to ruin), 'ins Verderben stürzen' (to plunge into ruin), and 'ins Verderben rennen' (to rush toward ruin), 'ins' is short for 'in das' and indicates the goal of a negative development. The expression can refer to a person, a group, or a thing.
EXAMPLE
Unkontrollierte Schulden können ein Unternehmen ins Verderben führen.
Uncontrolled debt can lead a company to ruin.
In real life
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