to pamper / spoil
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to pamper
To consciously give someone or yourself something especially good and pleasant in order to bring joy or help them relax.
Im Wellness-Hotel kann man sich mit Massagen und gutem Essen richtig verwöhnen lassen.
At the wellness hotel, you can really let yourself be pampered with massages and good food.
to spoil
To treat someone, especially a child, with excessive care and indulgence in such a way that they become demanding, dependent, or dissatisfied.
Sie befürchtet, dass die Großeltern das Kind mit den vielen Geschenken zu sehr verwöhnen.
She fears that the grandparents are spoiling the child too much with all the gifts.
to be spoiled
Figuratively, the state of being used to a very high standard, so that one is no longer satisfied with anything less.
Die Mannschaft war vom Erfolg der letzten Saison so verwöhnt, dass die erste Niederlage ein Schock war.
The team had been so spoiled by the success of the previous season that the first defeat was a shock.
'Verwöhnen' (to pamper/spoil) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Sie verwöhnt ihre Katze mit dem besten Futter.
She spoils her cat with the best food.
The verb is very often used reflexively as 'sich verwöhnen' (to pamper oneself) or in the construction 'sich verwöhnen lassen' (to let oneself be pampered). It then means doing something good for yourself or enjoying being taken care of by others.
Heute Abend koche ich nicht, ich lasse mich mal verwöhnen.
I'm not cooking tonight; for once, I'm going to let myself be pampered.
Whether 'verwöhnen' (to pamper/spoil) is meant positively (to take care of) or negatively (to spoil) depends on the context. Excessive, long-term indulgence, especially with children, is often understood negatively.
Er ist ein Einzelkind und wurde von seinen Eltern ziemlich verwöhnt.
He is an only child and was pretty spoiled by his parents.
In the figurative meaning, the construction 'von etwas verwöhnt sein' (to be spoiled by something) is often used. This expresses that someone is used to a high standard because of constant success or luxury.
Die Fans waren von den vielen Siegen der letzten Jahre verwöhnt.
The fans had been spoiled by the many victories of recent years.
to treat oneself / to not begrudge
Sich etwas gönnen emphasizes consciously allowing yourself a pleasure, a break, or a luxury. Sich verwöhnen means having yourself treated in a particularly pleasant or caring way. Gönnen is the right choice when emphasizing the decision to enjoy something; verwöhnen when emphasizing pleasant treatment.
Im Wellnesshotel lässt sich Mia mit einer Massage und gutem Essen verwöhnen.
At the spa hotel, Mia pampers herself with a massage and good food.
Nach der Prüfung gönnt sich Mia einen Nachmittag im Wellnesshotel.
After the exam, Mia treats herself to an afternoon at a spa hotel.
