01
gähnen
to yawn
As an involuntary reaction, often when tired or bored, to open the mouth wide and breathe in and out deeply.
example
Ich bin so müde, ich muss die ganze Zeit gähnen.
I'm so tired, I have to yawn all the time.
gähnen
to yawn / gape
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Context clue
The two meanings of 'gähnen' (to yawn / gape) are easy to distinguish by their grammatical form. When a person or animal 'gähnt' (yawns), it is used as a verb. The figurative meaning for an emptiness or abyss almost always appears as the adjective 'gähnend' (gaping).
EXAMPLE
Mein Hund gähnte und legte sich schlafen.
My dog yawned and lay down to sleep.
Typical collocations
When someone yawns, this is often described more precisely with adverbs or prepositional phrases. Typical expressions are 'herzhaft gähnen' (to yawn heartily), 'tief gähnen' (to yawn deeply), or 'vor Müdigkeit gähnen' (to yawn from tiredness).
EXAMPLE
Der Student in der letzten Reihe gähnte herzhaft.
The student in the last row yawned heartily.
Use as an adjective
In the figurative meaning, the participle 'gähnend' (gaping) is used like an adjective before a noun. It describes a large, empty, and often threatening expanse. The most common combinations are 'gähnende Leere' (gaping emptiness) and 'ein gähnender Abgrund' (a gaping abyss).
EXAMPLE
Als ich den Kühlschrank öffnete, sah ich nur gähnende Leere.
When I opened the refrigerator, I saw only gaping emptiness.
In real life
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