verdorben
spoiled
Changed by decay or improper storage so that a food item is no longer suitable for eating or drinking.
EXAMPLE
Das Fleisch riecht unangenehm und ist offenbar verdorben.
The meat smells unpleasant and is clearly spoiled.
verdorben
spoiled / corrupt
verdorben – verdorbener – am verdorbensten
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Meanings
verdorben
corrupt
Morally bad in character or behavior. The word expresses strong disapproval.
EXAMPLE
Der Roman schildert eine moralisch verdorbene Gesellschaft, in der Betrug und Grausamkeit zum Alltag gehören.
The novel portrays a morally corrupt society in which fraud and cruelty are part of everyday life.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry verdorben, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | verdorben |
|---|---|
| comparative | verdorbener |
| superlative | am verdorbensten |
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 verdorben.
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 verdorben.
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 verdorben.
Usage tips
Word family
'Verdorben' (spoiled / corrupt) is the past participle of the verb 'verderben' (to spoil / to corrupt) and is also used as an adjective. The connection to the verb helps you understand it: the adjective describes the result of a harmful change.
EXAMPLE
Durch die lange Lagerung in der Wärme waren die Lebensmittel verdorben.
The food was spoiled after being stored in warm conditions for a long time.
Typical collocations
Common combinations include 'verdorbenes Fleisch' (spoiled meat), 'verdorbener Fisch' (spoiled fish), and 'verdorbene Lebensmittel' (spoiled food). You can also use 'verdorben riechen' (to smell spoiled) to describe how a food item smells when you check it.
EXAMPLE
Der Fisch riecht verdorben, obwohl das Haltbarkeitsdatum noch nicht überschritten ist.
The fish smells spoiled, even though it is still within its expiration date.
Common intensifiers
In moral judgments, 'verdorben' (corrupt) is often used with 'moralisch' (morally) or 'zutiefst' (deeply). The fixed expression 'von Grund auf verdorben' (corrupt to the core) conveys that the negative judgment applies to someone's entire character.
EXAMPLE
Die Erzählerin stellt den Richter als einen von Grund auf verdorbenen Menschen dar.
The narrator portrays the judge as a person who is corrupt to the core.
In real life
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