to mock / to deride
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to deride
To mock or ridicule someone or something in a cruel and contemptuous way, often in order to humiliate the person.
Die gegnerischen Fans verhöhnten den Spieler nach seinem Fehlschuss.
The opposing fans derided the player after his missed shot.
'Verhöhnen' (to deride) is derived from the noun 'der Hohn' (mockery, scorn). The verb describes the action of subjecting someone to this scorn. It is an inseparable verb.
Sein Versuch, zu helfen, wurde nur mit Hohn und Spott quittiert.
His attempt to help was met only with mockery and scorn.
'Verhöhnen' (to deride) is a transitive verb and always requires an accusative object. This object is the person or thing being mocked.
Die Kritiker verhöhnten das neue Kunstwerk des Malers.
The critics derided the painter's new artwork.
'Verhöhnen' (to deride) is a very strong and emotionally negative word. It expresses a cruel, hurtful kind of mockery that aims to humiliate someone.
Es ist grausam, jemanden für seine Fehler öffentlich zu verhöhnen.
It is cruel to publicly deride someone for their mistakes.
to mock
Both verbs mean making someone look ridiculous in a hurtful way. „Verspotten“ is the more general term for condescending mockery, while „verhöhnen“ usually emphasizes greater contempt and humiliation. „Verhöhnen“ is especially suitable for cruel mockery; in other cases, „verspotten“ is often sufficient.
Die Mitschüler verhöhnten ihn vor der ganzen Klasse wegen seines alten Fahrrads.
His classmates derided him in front of the whole class because of his old bicycle.
Einige Mitschüler verspotteten ihn wegen seines alten Fahrrads.
Some of his classmates mocked him because of his old bicycle.
