verdauen
to digest
To break down food chemically and mechanically in the stomach and intestines so that the body can absorb the nutrients.
EXAMPLE
Fettiges Essen ist oft schwer zu verdauen.
Fatty food is often hard to digest.
verdauen
to digest
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Meanings
verdauen
to digest
To mentally and emotionally process and accept an event, a piece of information, or an experience, especially if it is shocking or unpleasant.
EXAMPLE
Sie brauchte einige Tage, um die Nachricht von ihrer Kündigung zu verdauen.
She needed a few days to digest the news of her dismissal.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verdauen' (to digest) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' is firmly attached to the stem and is never separated in a sentence.
EXAMPLE
Er hat die große Mahlzeit nur langsam verdaut.
He digested the large meal only slowly.
Typical adverbs
In the literal sense, 'verdauen' (to digest) is often combined with the adverbs 'leicht' (easily) or 'schwer' (with difficulty / hard) to describe how well food is tolerated.
EXAMPLE
Salat ist normalerweise leicht zu verdauen.
Salad is normally easy to digest.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the object of the sentence. If it is an abstract thing such as a 'Nachricht' (piece of news), a 'Schock' (shock), a 'Niederlage' (defeat), or an 'Enttäuschung' (disappointment), mental processing is meant.
EXAMPLE
Er muss erst einmal die Trennung von seiner Freundin verdauen.
First he has to digest the breakup with his girlfriend.
Compare with
verdauen vs verarbeiten
to process
Both words can refer to mentally and emotionally coping with a stressful experience. „Verarbeiten“ describes this process in general. „Verdauen“ is more figurative and often emphasizes that a shocking or unpleasant experience can only be accepted gradually.
verdauen
Nach der schockierenden Kündigung brauchte sie Zeit, um die Nachricht zu verdauen.
After the shocking dismissal, she needed time to digest the news.
verarbeiten
Nach der überraschenden Kündigung brauchte sie Zeit, um das Erlebnis zu verarbeiten.
After the unexpected dismissal, she needed time to process what had happened.
In real life
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