01
trauern um
to mourn
To feel and express deep pain and sadness over the death of a person or beloved animal.
example
Die ganze Familie trauert um die verstorbene Großmutter.
The whole family is mourning the deceased grandmother.
trauern
to mourn
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'trauern' (to mourn) belongs to the word family around 'die Trauer' (grief) and 'traurig' (sad). All these words describe a state of deep pain or great sorrow.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tod ihres Hundes war ihre Trauer sehr groß.
After the death of her dog, her grief was very great.
Fixed preposition
'Trauern' (to mourn) is almost always used with the preposition 'um' and the accusative. You mourn 'um jemanden' (for someone) or 'um etwas' (over something).
EXAMPLE
Er trauert immer noch um seine Katze, die letztes Jahr gestorben ist.
He is still mourning his cat, which died last year.
Context clue
The object after 'um' shows the exact meaning. 'Um eine Person trauern' means to mourn that person's death. 'Um eine verpasste Chance trauern' means to regret the loss of that opportunity.
EXAMPLE
Die Mannschaft trauert um den verstorbenen Trainer.
The team is mourning the deceased coach.
Alternative construction
When you regret the loss of a thing or a period of time, you can also use the separable verb 'nachtrauern' (to mourn/regret). This verb requires the dative: 'einer Sache nachtrauern' (to mourn/regret something).
EXAMPLE
Er trauert der alten Zeit nach, als alles einfacher schien.
He mourns the old days, when everything seemed simpler.
Compare with
trauern vs vermissen
to miss
'vermissen' and 'trauern' both have to do with sadness about something absent or lost. You use 'vermissen' when someone or something is not there and you feel sad or lonely because of it. This can also be temporary, for example with friends, family, or a place. 'trauern' is stronger and fits especially with death or a serious loss. It can also refer to the end of something important. Learners may confuse the words because both can sound sad. But you miss someone who is far away; you mourn someone or something you have lost.
trauern
Meine Mutter trauert um ihren alten Hund, obwohl sie im Alltag stark wirkt.
My mother is mourning her old dog, even though she seems strong in everyday life.
vermissen
Ben vermisst seine Freunde, weil er wegen der Arbeit in eine andere Stadt gezogen ist.
Ben misses his friends because he moved to another city for work.
In real life
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