01
stocken
to falter
To briefly pause or hesitate while speaking, often out of uncertainty, nervousness, or shock.
example
Als sie die schlechte Nachricht überbrachte, stockte ihre Stimme.
When she delivered the bad news, her voice faltered.
stocken
to falter / stall
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Sentence structure
'Stocken' (to falter/stall) is an intransitive verb that does not take an accusative object. The subject of the sentence is always the person, thing, or process that starts to falter or stall.
EXAMPLE
Mitten im Satz stockte der Redner.
In the middle of the sentence, the speaker faltered.
Context clue
You can recognize the meaning from the subject: If a person, voice, or speech 'stockt' (falters), it means 'zögern' (to hesitate). If traffic, the economy, or negotiations 'stocken' (stall), it means 'zum Stillstand kommen' (to come to a standstill).
EXAMPLE
Ihre Stimme stockte, als sie von dem Ereignis erzählte.
Her voice faltered as she talked about the event.
Typical subjects
In the meaning 'langsamer werden' (to slow down), 'stocken' (to stall) is often used with processes or movements. Typical subjects are 'der Verkehr' (traffic), 'die Verhandlungen' (negotiations), 'der Handel' (trade), or also 'der Atem' (breath).
EXAMPLE
Wegen des starken Schneefalls stockte der Verkehr auf allen Hauptstraßen.
Because of the heavy snowfall, traffic stalled on all main roads.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'jemandem das Blut in den Adern stocken lassen' (to make someone's blood run cold) is very common. The person who is frightened is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Der unheimliche Schrei ließ mir das Blut in den Adern stocken.
The eerie scream made my blood run cold.
Compare with
stocken vs hängen
to hang
'hängen' and 'stocken' can both mean that something is not continuing properly. 'hängen' is used colloquially especially for technology, for example when a computer or program suddenly stops responding. 'stocken' fits better with a process, movement, or sequence that slows down or briefly comes to a stop. With software, 'hängen' sounds more natural; with negotiations, traffic, or work steps, 'stocken' is more likely.
stocken
Nach dem Streit stockt die Arbeit im Team deutlich.
After the argument, the team’s work is noticeably stalling.
hängen
Mein Laptop hängt seit zehn Minuten, und ich kann nichts mehr anklicken.
My laptop has been frozen for ten minutes, and I can’t click anything anymore.
In real life
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