sich krümmen
to bend over
To bend or twist one's own body, often as a reaction to pain, laughter, or discomfort.
EXAMPLE
Er krümmte sich vor Schmerzen am Boden.
He bent over in pain on the floor.
krümmen
to bend / to curve
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Meanings
krümmen
to bend
To make something straight take on a bent or curved shape.
EXAMPLE
Der starke Wind hat den jungen Baum gekrümmt.
The strong wind bent the young tree.
sich krümmen
to warp
For an object or material to deform and become bent due to external influences such as heat or moisture.
EXAMPLE
Das Holzbrett hat sich in der Sonne gekrümmt.
The wooden board warped in the sun.
jemandem kein Haar krümmen
to not harm a hair on someone's head
To cause someone no harm at all or not injure them.
EXAMPLE
Ich verspreche dir, solange du bei mir bist, wird dir niemand ein Haar krümmen.
I promise you, as long as you're with me, no one will harm a hair on your head.
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'krümmen' (to bend / to curve) is derived directly from the adjective 'krumm' (crooked / bent). It describes the action of making something crooked or becoming crooked.
EXAMPLE
Ein krummer Ast lag auf dem Weg.
A crooked branch was lying on the path.
Reflexive or transitive
This verb is often used reflexively ('sich krümmen') when the subject bends itself. If it is used transitively ('etwas krümmen'), the subject bends another object.
EXAMPLE
Die Katze krümmte sich genüsslich in der Sonne.
The cat stretched and curved its body contentedly in the sun.
Context clue
The reflexive form 'sich krümmen' refers to living beings when it is about reactions such as pain or laughter. When it refers to objects, it describes deformation caused by external influences such as heat or pressure.
EXAMPLE
Das Kind krümmte sich vor Lachen über den Witz.
The child bent over with laughter at the joke.
Typical collocations
When a person bends over, it often happens as a reaction to a strong feeling. Typical triggers are expressed with the preposition 'vor' + dative: 'sich vor Schmerzen krümmen' (to bend over in pain) or 'sich vor Lachen krümmen' (to double over with laughter).
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Sturz krümmte sich der Radfahrer vor Schmerzen.
After the fall, the cyclist bent over in pain.
Fixed expression
The expression 'jemandem kein Haar krümmen' (to not harm a hair on someone's head) is a fixed unit. The person being protected is always in the dative. The expression is used almost exclusively in the negative form.
EXAMPLE
Keine Sorge, der Hund ist ganz lieb, der wird dir kein Haar krümmen.
Don't worry, the dog is very sweet; he won't harm a hair on your head.
Compare with
krümmen vs beugen
to bend
Sich beugen and sich krümmen can both describe a bent body posture. Sich beugen emphasizes the directed movement of the upper body forward or downward; sich krümmen emphasizes the curved shape of the whole body, often as a reaction to pain or discomfort.
krümmen
Wegen der starken Bauchschmerzen krümmt er seinen ganzen Körper.
Because of the severe stomach pain, he bends his whole body over.
beugen
Um durch die niedrige Tür zu gehen, beugt er den Oberkörper nach vorn.
To get through the low doorway, he bends his upper body forward.
In real life
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