sprühen
to spray
To atomize and distribute a liquid in the form of fine droplets.
EXAMPLE
Sie sprühte sich Parfüm auf das Handgelenk.
She sprayed perfume on her wrist.
sprühen
to spray
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Meanings
sprühen
to spray
To emit or produce sparks.
EXAMPLE
Das Lagerfeuer knisterte und sprühte Funken in den Nachthimmel.
The campfire crackled and sprayed sparks into the night sky.
sprühen vor
to radiate
To radiate a quality or feeling very strongly and visibly.
EXAMPLE
Nach ihrem Erfolg sprühte sie nur so vor Energie und Tatendrang.
After her success, she was simply radiating energy and drive.
Usage tips
Context clue
The meaning of 'sprühen' (to spray) becomes clear through the object or complement. If you spray a liquid (water, paint), the literal meaning is intended. If 'Funken' (sparks) are sprayed, it is about fire or electricity. If the verb appears with 'vor' and a feeling, it is a figurative description.
EXAMPLE
Der Gärtner sprüht Wasser auf die Pflanzen.
The gardener sprays water on the plants.
Sentence structure with 'auf'
When you spray a liquid onto a surface, use the preposition 'auf' followed by the accusative. The pattern is: etwas auf etwas sprühen (to spray something onto something).
EXAMPLE
Er sprühte den Lack gleichmäßig auf das Holz.
He sprayed the varnish evenly onto the wood.
Typical collocation
In the meaning 'to emit sparks', the most common combination is 'Funken sprühen' (to spray sparks). This can refer to a fire, a grinding machine, or even a short circuit.
EXAMPLE
Als das Metall auf den Stein traf, sprühten Funken.
When the metal hit the stone, sparks sprayed.
Fixed expression with 'vor'
The figurative meaning is almost always formed with the preposition 'vor' and a noun in the dative that expresses a feeling or quality. The pattern is: vor + [feeling in the dative] + sprühen.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder sprühten vor Freude, als sie die Geschenke sahen.
The children radiated joy when they saw the presents.
Compare with
sprühen vs spritzen
to inject / spray
Spritzen and sprühen can both describe distributing a liquid. Sprühen typically suggests fine droplets or a mist, while spritzen can also refer to a concentrated stream or larger drops. For a fine water mist, sprühen is more suitable; for a strong stream, spritzen is more suitable.
sprühen
Die Düse sprüht einen feinen Wassernebel über die Pflanzen.
The nozzle sprays a fine mist of water over the plants.
spritzen
Die Düse spritzt einen kräftigen Wasserstrahl auf die Pflanzen.
The nozzle sprays a strong stream of water onto the plants.
In real life
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