to overwhelm
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to overwhelm
To demand more from someone or something than they or it can manage, so that the person or thing reaches their limits.
Der neue Chef neigt dazu, seine Mitarbeiter mit zu vielen Aufgaben zu überfordern.
The new boss tends to overwhelm his employees with too many tasks.
to overburden oneself
To expect too much of oneself or take on more tasks than one can handle.
Pass auf, dass du dich mit dem Studium und dem Nebenjob nicht überforderst.
Be careful not to overburden yourself with your studies and your part-time job.
The word is made up of the prefix 'über-' (over-/too much) and the verb 'fordern' (to demand). The prefix 'über-' here means 'too much', so literally 'to demand too much'.
Die Menge an Informationen kann neue Lernende schnell überfordern.
The amount of information can quickly overwhelm new learners.
'Überfordern' (to overwhelm) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'über-' is not separated from the verb stem in any sentence form.
Sie überfordert ihre Kinder mit zu hohen Erwartungen.
She overwhelms her children with expectations that are too high.
The past participle 'überfordert' (overwhelmed) is very often used like an adjective to describe the state of being overwhelmed. It often follows the verb 'sein' (to be) or 'sich fühlen' (to feel).
Nach acht Stunden Arbeit fühle ich mich total überfordert.
After eight hours of work, I feel totally overwhelmed.
To express what someone is overwhelmed by, the preposition 'mit' (with/by) is used followed by a noun in the dative.
Der Praktikant war mit der Verantwortung völlig überfordert.
The intern was completely overwhelmed by the responsibility.
When a person expects too much of themselves, the verb is used reflexively with 'sich' (oneself). The reflexive pronoun is in the accusative.
Wenn du weiterhin 60 Stunden pro Woche arbeitest, überforderst du dich.
If you keep working 60 hours a week, you will overburden yourself.
to take over / take on
Sich übernehmen and sich überfordern can both mean taking on too much. Sich übernehmen often emphasizes the wrong decision to accept too much work. Sich überfordern focuses more on the fact that one’s own strength or abilities are not sufficient.
Drei zusätzliche Projekte überfordern Nina inzwischen deutlich.
Three additional projects are clearly overwhelming Nina by now.
Mit drei zusätzlichen Projekten hat sich Nina übernommen.
By taking on three additional projects, Nina took on too much.
