streuen
to scatter
To distribute small things, such as powder, seeds, or sand, over a surface.
EXAMPLE
Im Winter müssen die Straßenwärter bei Glatteis Salz streuen.
In winter, road maintenance workers have to scatter salt when there is black ice.
streuen
to scatter / spread
streuen – streute – hat gestreut
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Meanings
streuen
to spread
To spread information, rumors, or ideas deliberately or unintentionally.
EXAMPLE
Jemand hat das Gerücht gestreut, dass die Firma bald schließt.
Someone spread the rumor that the company will be closing soon.
streuen
to scatter
In physics, the deflection of light or particles in different directions when they hit an obstacle.
EXAMPLE
Die Milchglasscheibe streut das einfallende Licht und sorgt für eine weiche Beleuchtung.
The frosted glass pane scatters the incoming light and creates soft lighting.
streuen
to scatter
With firearms, the deviation of impacts from the target point, so that the shots hit a larger area.
EXAMPLE
Das alte Gewehr streut so stark, dass man auf 50 Meter kaum noch die Scheibe trifft.
The old rifle scatters so badly that at 50 meters you can hardly hit the target anymore.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry streuen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | streue |
|---|---|
| du | streust |
| er/sie/es | streut |
| wir | streuen |
| ihr | streut |
| sie | streuen |
Simple past
| ich | streute |
|---|---|
| du | streutest |
| er/sie/es | streute |
| wir | streuten |
| ihr | streutet |
| sie | streuten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe gestreut |
|---|---|
| du | hast gestreut |
| er/sie/es | hat gestreut |
| wir | haben gestreut |
| ihr | habt gestreut |
| sie | haben gestreut |
Commands
| du | streue! streu! |
|---|---|
| ihr | streut! |
| Sie | streuen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte gestreut |
|---|---|
| du | hattest gestreut |
| er/sie/es | hatte gestreut |
| wir | hatten gestreut |
| ihr | hattet gestreut |
| sie | hatten gestreut |
Future
| ich | werde streuen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst streuen |
| er/sie/es | wird streuen |
| wir | werden streuen |
| ihr | werdet streuen |
| sie | werden streuen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | streue |
|---|---|
| du | streuest |
| er/sie/es | streue |
| wir | streuen |
| ihr | streuet |
| sie | streuen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | streute |
|---|---|
| du | streutest |
| er/sie/es | streute |
| wir | streuten |
| ihr | streutet |
| sie | streuten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | streuen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu streuen |
| present participle | streuend |
| past participle | gestreut |
Usage tips
Sentence structure and usage patterns
The verb 'streuen' (to scatter/spread) is often used with an accusative object that indicates what is being distributed. With a preposition like 'auf' (onto) or 'über' (over) (+ accusative), you can indicate the place or surface.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder streuen Brotkrumen für die Vögel auf den Boden.
The children scatter breadcrumbs for the birds on the ground.
Der Bäcker streut Mehl über die Arbeitsfläche.
The baker sprinkles flour over the work surface.
Typical collocations
In its literal meaning, 'streuen' (to scatter/sprinkle) is often used with small, loose materials. Typical combinations are: 'Salz streuen' (to scatter salt), 'Zucker streuen' (to sprinkle sugar), 'Samen streuen' (to sow/scatter seeds), or 'Blumen streuen' (to scatter flowers).
EXAMPLE
Für den Salat streue ich noch ein paar Kräuter darüber.
For the salad, I'll sprinkle a few more herbs over it.
Der Landwirt streut die Samen auf dem Feld.
The farmer scatters the seeds in the field.
Figurative meaning
In a figurative sense, 'streuen' (to spread) is used for spreading immaterial things. Common combinations are 'Gerüchte streuen' (to spread rumors), 'Informationen streuen' (to spread information), or 'Zweifel streuen' (to sow doubt), and they often have a negative connotation.
EXAMPLE
Die Opposition versuchte, gezielt Falschinformationen zu streuen.
The opposition tried to deliberately spread false information.
Er hat das Gerücht gestreut, um seinem Konkurrenten zu schaden.
He spread the rumor in order to harm his competitor.
Register: technical language
In physics, 'streuen' (to scatter) describes the deflection of light or particles. In this context, the subject is often an object that causes the scattering.
EXAMPLE
Der Nebel streut das Licht der Autoscheinwerfer.
The fog scatters the light from the car headlights.
Compare with
streuen vs verbreiten
to spread
Both words work when a rumor or piece of information is put into circulation. „Streuen“ places more emphasis on deliberately or casually planting it in various places, while „verbreiten“ neutrally refers to passing it on to many people. Choose „streuen“ for the way something is put into circulation and „verbreiten“ for the general process.
streuen
Jemand streute das Gerücht gezielt in mehreren Chatgruppen.
Someone deliberately planted the rumor in several chat groups.
verbreiten
Die Zeitung verbreitet die Information an viele Menschen.
The newspaper spreads the information to many people.
In real life
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