versinken
to sink
To go completely under in a liquid or a soft mass and no longer be visible.
EXAMPLE
Das Schiff traf einen Eisberg und versank innerhalb weniger Stunden im Meer.
The ship hit an iceberg and sank in the sea within a few hours.
versinken
to sink
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Meanings
versinken in
to be absorbed in
To concentrate completely on something mentally or emotionally and forget one's surroundings. To become deeply absorbed in an activity, a feeling, or a state.
EXAMPLE
Sie war so in ihr Buch versunken, dass sie die Haltestelle verpasste.
She was so absorbed in her book that she missed the stop.
versinken
to sink into
To become overwhelmed by or trapped in a negative state, for example chaos, poverty, or grief.
EXAMPLE
Nach dem Tod ihres Mannes drohte sie in tiefer Trauer zu versinken.
After her husband's death, she threatened to sink into deep grief.
versinken
to sink
A poetic expression for the setting of a celestial body, especially the sun, at the horizon.
EXAMPLE
Wir saßen am Strand und sahen zu, wie die rote Sonne im Meer versank.
We sat on the beach and watched as the red sun sank into the sea.
Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Versinken' (to sink) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' always remains attached to the stem 'sinken' (to sink). It intensifies the meaning and emphasizes that something goes under or disappears completely.
EXAMPLE
Das Auto ist im Schlamm versunken.
The car sank into the mud.
Perfect tense with 'sein'
Since 'versinken' (to sink) describes a change of state or a movement, the perfect tense is always formed with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be). So the correct form is 'ist versunken' (has sunk / is absorbed).
EXAMPLE
Die Sonne ist bereits im Meer versunken.
The sun has already sunk into the sea.
Fixed preposition 'in'
When someone becomes mentally or emotionally absorbed in something, 'versinken' is always used with the preposition 'in' and the dative. This structure is very typical.
EXAMPLE
Er versank tief in Gedanken und bemerkte mich nicht.
He sank deep into thought and didn't notice me.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of 'going under in a negative state', 'versinken' (to sink into) is often combined with abstract nouns like 'Chaos' (chaos), 'Armut' (poverty), 'Trauer' (grief), or 'Schulden' (debt).
EXAMPLE
Nach der Firmenpleite drohte er in Schulden zu versinken.
After the company went bankrupt, he threatened to sink into debt.
Poetic usage
The use of 'versinken' (to sink) for celestial bodies like the sun is poetic. In normal usage, you would more likely say 'untergehen' (to set), but in literary or romantic contexts, 'versinken' is common.
EXAMPLE
Wir beobachteten, wie der Mond langsam hinter den Bergen versank.
We watched as the moon slowly sank behind the mountains.
Compare with
versinken vs geraten
to get into / turn out
Geraten and versinken can both describe a transition into a negative state. Geraten mainly refers to entering the situation, while versinken expresses progressively and completely sinking into it. Use geraten for the beginning and versinken when the situation keeps getting worse.
versinken
Nach dem Fehler versank die Firma immer tiefer im Chaos.
After the mistake, the company sank deeper and deeper into chaos.
geraten
Nach dem Fehler geriet die Firma in große Schwierigkeiten.
After the mistake, the company got into serious difficulties.
In real life
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