01
verprügeln
to beat up
To hit someone violently and repeatedly, often with fists or an object.
example
Er wurde nach dem Streit von einer Gruppe Jugendlicher verprügelt.
After the argument, he was beaten up by a group of teenagers.
verprügeln
to beat up
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Meanings
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
The verb has the inseparable prefix 'ver-'. It remains firmly attached to the stem 'prügeln' (to beat) in all tenses and sentence constructions. Here, the prefix emphasizes that the action is carried out on a victim.
EXAMPLE
Er hat den Jungen nach der Schule verprügelt.
He beat up the boy after school.
Sentence structure with accusative
'Verprügeln' (to beat up) is a transitive verb and always needs a direct object in the accusative. This object is the person or animal being beaten.
EXAMPLE
Die Bande hat ihn grundlos verprügelt.
The gang beat him up for no reason.
Common passive form
This verb is very often used in the passive to put the victim in focus. The acting person (the perpetrator) is then often omitted or added with 'von' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Der Mann wurde auf offener Straße verprügelt.
The man was beaten up in the middle of the street.
Compare with
verprügeln vs schlagen
to hit / beat
'schlagen' and 'verprügeln' both have to do with physical violence. 'schlagen' can already mean a single hit and does not yet say how hard or how often someone is hit. 'verprügeln' is much stronger: it means that someone is hit violently and repeatedly. Learners may confuse the words because both describe violence. The important point is: 'verprügeln' only fits when the violence is more serious and lasts longer.
verprügeln
Nach dem Fußballspiel wurde ein Fan auf dem Parkplatz verprügelt.
After the football match, a fan was beaten up in the parking lot.
schlagen
Aus Wut schlug er mit der Faust auf den Tisch.
Out of anger, he hit the table with his fist.
In real life
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