verbrannt
burned
Damaged, charred, or made inedible by fire or intense heat.
EXAMPLE
Der Kuchen ist völlig verbrannt.
The cake is completely burned.
verbrannt
burned / discredited / wasted
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Meanings
verbrannt
discredited
So badly damaged by a scandal or a compromising affair that someone can hardly be considered for a political or professional role anymore.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Skandal gilt der Minister in seiner Partei als verbrannt.
After the scandal, the minister is considered discredited within his party.
verbrannt
wasted
Lost or used up without any benefit, especially in reference to money or resources.
EXAMPLE
Das gesamte Geld für das gescheiterte Projekt ist verbrannt.
All the money spent on the failed project has been wasted.
verbrannte Erde
scorched earth
A completely devastated area, or a strategy of leaving the enemy as few usable resources as possible.
EXAMPLE
Auf ihrem Rückzug hinterließ die Armee verbrannte Erde.
As it retreated, the army left scorched earth behind.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry verbrannt, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | verbrannt |
|---|
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to verbrannt.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to verbrannt.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to verbrannt.
Usage tips
Context clue
With 'verbrannt' (burned / discredited / wasted), the surrounding words usually indicate the meaning: heat, fire, or food point to the literal meaning; a minister, a career, or money suggest a figurative meaning. The combination 'verbrannte Erde' (scorched earth) is a fixed expression.
EXAMPLE
Wegen des Feuers waren mehrere Häuser verbrannt.
Several houses were burned in the fire.
Nach dem Fehltritt war seine politische Karriere verbrannt.
After his misstep, his political career was ruined.
Mit ihren beleidigenden Abschiedsworten hinterließ die Abteilungsleiterin verbrannte Erde.
With her insulting parting words, the department head left scorched earth behind.
Typical collocations
In its literal sense, 'verbrannt' (burned) is often used with food and objects damaged by heat. Typical combinations include 'verbranntes Essen' (burned food), 'verbrannter Kuchen' (burned cake), and 'verbranntes Holz' (burned wood).
EXAMPLE
Wegen der langen Backzeit war die Pizza am Rand verbrannt.
Because it had been baking for so long, the pizza was burned around the edges.
Political context
The figurative meaning is particularly common in political and professional news. In these contexts, 'verbrannt' (discredited) often describes a person, a career, or a candidacy after a scandal.
EXAMPLE
Nach den neuen Vorwürfen gilt der Kandidat als politisch verbrannt.
After the new allegations, the candidate is considered politically discredited.
Money and resources
When referring to money and resources, 'verbrannt' (wasted) is often used predicatively with 'sein' (to be) or in combination with 'werden' (to become, or to be in passive constructions). This wording emphasizes that something has been used up without producing a useful result.
EXAMPLE
In wenigen Monaten war das gesamte Budget verbrannt.
Within a few months, the entire budget had been wasted.
Fixed expression
'Verbrannte Erde' (scorched earth) is a fixed expression used in military and political language. It can refer to a devastated landscape or a strategy in which retreating troops leave the enemy as little usable infrastructure and as few supplies as possible.
EXAMPLE
Die Regierung wollte nach dem Machtwechsel keine verbrannte Erde hinterlassen.
The government did not want to leave scorched earth behind after the change in power.
In real life
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