stolpern
to stumble
To catch your foot on an obstacle while walking or running and thereby lose your balance or fall.
EXAMPLE
Im Dunkeln bin ich über eine Teppichkante gestolpert.
In the dark, I stumbled over the edge of a carpet.
stolpern
to stumble
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Meanings
stolpern über
to stumble across
Figuratively, to find or discover something or someone by chance and unexpectedly.
EXAMPLE
Beim Aufräumen des Kellers bin ich über meine alten Schulhefte gestolpert.
While tidying up the basement, I stumbled across my old school notebooks.
stolpern
to stumble
To briefly lose the thread while speaking or reading aloud, misspeak, or get stuck on a word.
EXAMPLE
Der Nachrichtensprecher stolperte kurz über den komplizierten ausländischen Namen.
The newsreader briefly stumbled over the complicated foreign name.
Usage tips
Perfect tense with 'sein'
The perfect tense of 'stolpern' (to stumble) is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), because it describes an uncontrolled movement or a change of state. So it is 'ich bin gestolpert' (I stumbled), not 'ich habe gestolpert'.
EXAMPLE
Pass auf, ich bin gestern an der gleichen Stelle gestolpert.
Be careful, I stumbled in the same spot yesterday.
Fixed preposition
In all meanings, 'stolpern' (to stumble) is almost always used with the preposition 'über' (over/across) and the accusative. This structure indicates what you get caught on, what you find by chance, or which word causes difficulty.
EXAMPLE
Er ist über ein Kabel gestolpert.
He stumbled over a cable.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning 'etwas zufällig finden' (to find something by chance) from the context. The object that you 'stolpert' over is not a physical obstacle here, but often a piece of information, an object, or a person that you discover unexpectedly.
EXAMPLE
Beim Stöbern in der Bibliothek bin ich über ein faszinierendes Buch gestolpert.
While browsing in the library, I stumbled across a fascinating book.
Typical collocations
When it comes to speaking, 'stolpern' (to stumble) is often used in phrases like 'über seine eigenen Worte stolpern' (to stumble over one's own words) or 'beim Vorlesen stolpern' (to stumble while reading aloud). It describes a brief interruption or a small mistake in the flow of speech.
EXAMPLE
Der Redner war nervös und stolperte mehrmals über seine eigenen Worte.
The speaker was nervous and stumbled over his own words several times.
Compare with
stolpern vs stocken
to falter / stall
When speaking, both words can describe a brief disruption. “Stocken” emphasizes a pause or hesitation, for example because of uncertainty; “stolpern,” on the other hand, highlights a slip of the tongue, a difficult word, or losing the thread. What matters, therefore, is the type of interruption.
stolpern
Beim Vorlesen stolperte Lea über ein schwieriges Wort.
Lea stumbled over a difficult word while reading aloud.
stocken
Beim Vorlesen stockte Lea kurz, weil sie plötzlich nervös wurde.
Lea faltered briefly while reading aloud because she suddenly became nervous.
In real life
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