einfrieren
to freeze
To preserve food by cooling it to temperatures below freezing point.
EXAMPLE
Wir frieren im Sommer immer frische Beeren für den Winter ein.
In summer, we always freeze fresh berries for the winter.
einfrieren
to freeze
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Meanings
einfrieren
to freeze
The process in which a liquid becomes solid and turns into ice because of the cold.
EXAMPLE
Bei minus fünf Grad sind die Wasserleitungen eingefroren.
At minus five degrees, the water pipes froze.
einfrieren
to freeze
To become motionless, often because of cold, fear, or surprise.
EXAMPLE
Als er das Geräusch hörte, ist er mitten in der Bewegung eingefroren.
When he heard the noise, he froze in mid-movement.
einfrieren
to freeze
In an economic or political context, to stop a development or block something at its current state, e.g. prices, salaries, or funds.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung hat die Konten des Verdächtigen einfrieren lassen.
The government had the suspect's accounts frozen.
einfrieren
to freeze
In IT language, the phenomenon where a computer program or the entire system no longer responds to input.
EXAMPLE
Mein Bildschirm ist eingefroren und ich kann die Maus nicht mehr bewegen.
My screen has frozen and I can't move the mouse anymore.
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Einfrieren' (to freeze) is a separable verb. The prefix 'ein-' goes at the end in a main clause. In the infinitive with 'zu', 'zu' is placed between the prefix and the verb: 'einzufrieren' (to freeze).
EXAMPLE
Ich friere die Suppe für später ein.
I am freezing the soup for later.
Perfect tense with 'sein' or 'haben'
The auxiliary verb depends on the meaning. When 'einfrieren' (to freeze) is an active action with an accusative object, you use 'haben'. If it describes a change of state of the subject, you use 'sein'.
EXAMPLE
Ich habe die Reste vom Abendessen eingefroren.
I froze the leftovers from dinner.
Figurative meaning (business)
In a figurative sense, 'einfrieren' (to freeze) means to stop something at its current state. This meaning is often found in news and business texts in connection with finances, salaries, or prices.
EXAMPLE
Die Bank hat die Konten der verdächtigen Firma eingefroren.
The bank froze the accounts of the suspicious company.
Figurative meaning (IT)
In computer language, 'einfrieren' (to freeze) means that a program or the whole system no longer responds. The auxiliary verb for this change of state is 'sein'.
EXAMPLE
Mein Programm ist eingefroren, als ich die Datei speichern wollte.
My program froze when I tried to save the file.
Meaning with people
When a person 'einfriert' (freezes), it means they suddenly stop moving because of fear or surprise. The auxiliary verb for this process is always 'sein'.
EXAMPLE
Als er die Gestalt im Dunkeln sah, ist er vor Angst eingefroren.
When he saw the figure in the dark, he froze with fear.
Compare with
einfrieren vs hängen
to hang
In IT, hängen and einfrieren can both mean that software no longer responds. Hängen is an informal term for the malfunction in general. Einfrieren emphasizes the blocked state in which the program remains at the same point.
einfrieren
Beim Speichern friert das Programm ein und bleibt auf demselben Bild stehen.
The program freezes while saving and remains stuck on the same screen.
hängen
Seit dem Update hängt das Programm immer wieder und arbeitet nicht weiter.
Since the update, the program keeps freezing and does not continue working.
In real life
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