vernebeln
to shroud
To cover something in fog or thick smoke, making it harder to see.
EXAMPLE
Der dichte Rauch vernebelte den ganzen Raum.
The thick smoke shrouded the entire room.
vernebeln
to obscure / cloud
vernebeln – vernebelte – hat vernebelt
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Meanings
vernebeln
to obscure
To make something unclear and difficult to understand, intentionally or unintentionally.
EXAMPLE
Die komplizierten Erklärungen vernebeln das eigentliche Problem.
The complicated explanations obscure the real problem.
vernebeln
to cloud
To impair thinking or perception, for example through alcohol or strong emotions.
EXAMPLE
Der Alkohol vernebelte seinen Verstand.
The alcohol clouded his mind.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry vernebeln, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | verneble vernebele |
|---|---|
| du | vernebelst |
| er/sie/es | vernebelt |
| wir | vernebeln |
| ihr | vernebelt |
| sie | vernebeln |
Simple past
| ich | vernebelte |
|---|---|
| du | vernebeltest |
| er/sie/es | vernebelte |
| wir | vernebelten |
| ihr | vernebeltet |
| sie | vernebelten |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe vernebelt |
|---|---|
| du | hast vernebelt |
| er/sie/es | hat vernebelt |
| wir | haben vernebelt |
| ihr | habt vernebelt |
| sie | haben vernebelt |
Commands
| du | vernebel! vernebele!, verneble! |
|---|---|
| ihr | vernebelt! |
| Sie | vernebeln Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte vernebelt |
|---|---|
| du | hattest vernebelt |
| er/sie/es | hatte vernebelt |
| wir | hatten vernebelt |
| ihr | hattet vernebelt |
| sie | hatten vernebelt |
Future
| ich | werde vernebeln |
|---|---|
| du | wirst vernebeln |
| er/sie/es | wird vernebeln |
| wir | werden vernebeln |
| ihr | werdet vernebeln |
| sie | werden vernebeln |
Subjunctive I
| ich | vernebele verneble |
|---|---|
| du | vernebelst verneblest |
| er/sie/es | vernebele verneble |
| wir | vernebeln |
| ihr | vernebelt verneblet |
| sie | vernebeln |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | vernebelte |
|---|---|
| du | vernebeltest |
| er/sie/es | vernebelte |
| wir | vernebelten |
| ihr | vernebeltet |
| sie | vernebelten |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | vernebeln |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu vernebeln |
| present participle | vernebelnd |
| past participle | vernebelt |
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Vernebeln' (to shroud / obscure / cloud) has the inseparable prefix 'ver-'. The prefix therefore stays attached to the stem in both main and subordinate clauses; it also remains in the past participle 'vernebelt' in the perfect tense.
EXAMPLE
Der Qualm hat den Flur vollständig vernebelt.
The smoke has completely shrouded the hallway.
Typical collocations
In its literal sense, 'vernebeln' (to shroud) often occurs with words related to seeing and visibility, for example 'die Sicht vernebeln' (to obscure the view), 'einen Raum vernebeln' (to shroud a room in fog or smoke), or 'den Himmel vernebeln' (to shroud the sky).
EXAMPLE
Der aufsteigende Rauch vernebelte die Sicht auf die Straße.
The rising smoke obscured the view of the road.
Figurative use
In its figurative sense, the object of 'vernebeln' (to obscure) is often something abstract, such as a discussion, a problem, or important connections. The word then describes a loss of clear understanding or clarity.
EXAMPLE
Seine widersprüchlichen Aussagen vernebeln die Diskussion.
His contradictory statements obscure the discussion.
Thinking and perception
In the sense of impaired perception, aspects of the body and mind often serve as the object, for example 'den Verstand vernebeln' (to cloud the mind), 'die Sinne vernebeln' (to cloud the senses), or 'das Denken vernebeln' (to cloud one's thinking).
EXAMPLE
Die starken Medikamente vernebelten ihr Denken für mehrere Stunden.
The strong medication clouded her thinking for several hours.
In real life
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