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
trauern um
to mourn
To feel great sadness about the loss or end of something abstract or ideal, for example a missed opportunity or a time that has passed.
EXAMPLE
Er trauerte noch lange der verpassten Gelegenheit nach, im Ausland zu studieren.
He mourned the missed opportunity to study abroad for a long time.
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 can both refer to a deceased person or a beloved animal. Vermissen emphasizes that someone is absent and that this causes suffering. Trauern describes the deep pain caused by death or loss, and often its visible expression as well.
trauern
Seit dem Tod ihres Hundes trauert Lea tief um ihn.
Since her dog died, Lea has been deeply mourning his loss.
vermissen
Seit dem Tod ihres Hundes vermisst Lea seine Nähe jeden Tag.
Since her dog died, Lea has missed being close to him every day.
In real life
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