to flood
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to flood
Water covers an area that is normally dry, usually as a result of heavy rain, high water levels, or a storm surge.
Nach dem Dammbruch überflutete das Wasser das gesamte Tal.
After the dam burst, the water flooded the entire valley.
'Überfluten' (to flood) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'über-' remains firmly attached to the verb in all sentence forms. Trying to separate it is a common mistake.
Der Fluss überflutete die Felder.
The river flooded the fields.
In the figurative meaning, 'überfluten' (to flood) is always used with the preposition 'mit' (with). The structure is: 'jemanden/etwas mit etwas überfluten' (to flood someone/something with something).
Die Firma überflutete den Markt mit billigen Produkten.
The company flooded the market with cheap products.
The meaning is easy to distinguish: if the sentence talks about water, a river, or rain, the literal meaning is intended. The preposition 'mit' (with), on the other hand, almost always points to the figurative meaning.
Starker Regen hat die Straßen überflutet.
Heavy rain flooded the streets.
to drown
'ertrinken' and 'überfluten' can both have to do with too much water or too much of something. Literally, 'ertrinken' means that a person or animal dies in water. Figuratively, people also say that someone is drowning in work or problems when it becomes far too much. 'überfluten', by contrast, describes water covering an area, for example a street or a basement. Figuratively, you can flood someone with messages or information. There is a risk of confusion because both words express the idea of 'too much'. But 'ertrinken' describes the affected person or the feeling of being overwhelmed, while 'überfluten' describes the large amount that comes toward someone or something.
Nach dem starken Regen überflutet das Wasser die Straße vor dem Haus.
After the heavy rain, the water floods the street in front of the house.
Nach dem Urlaub ertrinkt sie fast in E-Mails.
After her vacation, she is practically drowning in emails.