01
verderben
to spoil
For food: to go bad and therefore become inedible.
example
Die Milch ist in der Hitze schnell verdorben.
The milk spoiled quickly in the heat.
verderben
to spoil / ruin
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Verderben' (to spoil/ruin) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always stays attached to the verb stem and often indicates that something becomes bad, fails, or is destroyed.
EXAMPLE
Zu viel Salz verdirbt die Suppe.
Too much salt spoils the soup.
Context clue
The meaning of 'verderben' depends strongly on the object. With food, it means 'to go bad'. With abstract nouns like 'Stimmung' (mood), 'Freude' (joy), or 'Appetit' (appetite), it means 'to ruin' or 'to destroy'.
EXAMPLE
Das Fleisch ist verdorben, wir müssen es wegwerfen.
The meat has spoiled; we have to throw it away.
Adjective 'verdorben'
The past participle 'verdorben' is very often used like an adjective to describe the condition of food. It then means 'bad' or 'inedible'.
EXAMPLE
Der Joghurt riecht komisch, ich glaube, er ist verdorben.
The yogurt smells strange; I think it has spoiled.
Dative construction
When you ruin something for someone, the person is in the dative. The structure is: 'jemandem (Dativ) etwas (Akkusativ) verderben' (to ruin something for someone).
EXAMPLE
Mit deiner schlechten Laune verdirbst du uns allen den Abend.
With your bad mood, you're ruining the evening for all of us.
Fixed expression
The idiom 'es sich mit jemandem verderben' (to fall out with someone) is a fixed structure. 'Es' and 'sich' are fixed components. The person with whom the relationship worsens is connected with 'mit + Dativ'.
EXAMPLE
Ich möchte es mir mit meinen Kollegen nicht verderben, also halte ich mich aus dem Streit heraus.
I don't want to fall out with my colleagues, so I'm staying out of the argument.
Fixed expression
The expression 'sich den Magen verderben' (to upset one's stomach) is a fixed unit. The person this happens to is in the dative, which is expressed by the reflexive pronoun, e.g. 'ich verderbe mir den Magen' (I upset my stomach).
EXAMPLE
Iss die Mayonnaise nicht, sonst verdirbst du dir noch den Magen!
Don't eat the mayonnaise, or you'll upset your stomach!
Proverb
The sentence 'Viele Köche verderben den Brei' (Too many cooks spoil the broth) is a well-known German proverb. It is used to comment on a situation in which too many people are working on a task and the result becomes worse because of it.
EXAMPLE
Alle wollten bei der Projektplanung mitreden, aber das Ergebnis war chaotisch. Viele Köche verderben eben den Brei.
Everyone wanted to have a say in the project planning, but the result was chaotic. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Compare with
verderben vs zerstören
to destroy
'zerstören' and 'verderben' can both mean that something good is ruined. 'zerstören' sounds stronger and more final. For example, you can use it to destroy trust, a relationship, or big plans. 'verderben' often fits with a mood, joy, or an opportunity. It sounds a bit more everyday and often means: something was good, but becomes bad because of a behavior or an event. With relationships, there is also the fixed phrase 'es sich mit jemandem verderben' (to fall out with someone). Then the relationship is damaged by one's own behavior.
verderben
Der Streit am Abend hat allen die gute Laune verdorben.
The argument in the evening ruined everyone's good mood.
zerstören
Die vielen Lügen haben das Vertrauen im Team zerstört.
The many lies destroyed the trust within the team.
In real life
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