01
gedeihen
to thrive
To develop well and vigorously; to grow and bloom. Used mainly for plants.
example
Die Tomaten gedeihen in diesem sonnigen Sommer prächtig.
The tomatoes are thriving beautifully in this sunny summer.
gedeihen
to thrive
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Gedeihen' (to thrive) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ge-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all sentence forms and tenses.
EXAMPLE
Ich hoffe, dass die neuen Pflanzen gut gedeihen.
I hope that the new plants thrive well.
Auxiliary verb 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'gedeihen' (to thrive) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), because it describes a change of state (growth). The form is 'ist gediehen' (has thrived).
EXAMPLE
Die Kräuter auf dem Balkon sind dieses Jahr prächtig gediehen.
The herbs on the balcony have thrived beautifully this year.
Register
The verb 'gedeihen' (to thrive) belongs to elevated language. It sounds more formal and poetic than the everyday word 'wachsen' (to grow).
EXAMPLE
In dieser friedlichen Umgebung konnte die Kunst richtig gedeihen.
In this peaceful environment, art was able to truly thrive.
Typical collocations
In connection with plants, 'gedeihen' (to thrive) is often combined with adverbs such as 'prächtig' (beautifully), 'gut' (well), or 'hervorragend' (excellently) to emphasize strong growth.
EXAMPLE
Meine Rosen gedeihen an diesem sonnigen Platz besonders gut.
My roses thrive especially well in this sunny spot.
Context clue
The figurative meaning can be recognized from the context. When it is about abstract things like 'Ideen' (ideas), 'Unternehmen' (companies), 'Kultur' (culture), or 'Geschäfte' (business), literal growth is not meant.
EXAMPLE
Das kleine Unternehmen ist in den letzten Jahren gut gediehen.
The small company has thrived in recent years.
Compare with
gedeihen vs kümmern
to care / concern / languish
'kümmern' and 'gedeihen' form a contrast here when it comes to growth. 'kümmern' describes that a plant remains weak and does not grow properly. 'gedeihen', on the other hand, means that a plant grows well, strongly, and healthily. Both words are especially well suited to plants. Put simply: a plant 'kümmert' when it is doing badly; it 'gedeiht' when the conditions are good.
gedeihen
Im warmen Gewächshaus gedeihen die Kräuter besonders gut.
The herbs thrive especially well in the warm greenhouse.
kümmern
Die Tomaten kümmern, weil sie zu wenig Sonne bekommen.
The tomatoes are languishing because they are not getting enough sun.
In real life
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