das Wrack
wreck
The badly damaged remains of an accident-damaged vehicle, especially a ship, airplane, or car.
EXAMPLE
Taucher haben das Wrack eines gesunkenen Piratenschiffs entdeckt.
Divers discovered the wreck of a sunken pirate ship.
das Wrack
wreck
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Meanings
das Wrack
wreck
A person who is physically or emotionally completely exhausted, ill, or at the end of their strength.
EXAMPLE
Nach der Prüfungswoche fühlte er sich wie ein menschliches Wrack.
After exam week, he felt like a human wreck.
Usage tips
Context clue
You can easily recognize the meaning of 'Wrack' (wreck) from the context. If people are talking about an accident-damaged vehicle (ship, car), the literal meaning is intended. If it refers to a person, it is a colloquial metaphor for exhaustion.
EXAMPLE
Das Wrack des alten Frachters liegt auf dem Meeresgrund.
The wreck of the old freighter lies on the seabed.
Typical collocations
'Wrack' (wreck) is often used as the second part of compound words to specify the type of vehicle. Common examples are 'Schiffswrack' (shipwreck), 'Autowrack' (car wreck), or 'Flugzeugwrack' (plane wreck).
EXAMPLE
Das Museum stellt Teile eines alten Schiffswracks aus.
The museum displays parts of an old shipwreck.
Colloquial use
Using 'Wrack' (wreck) for a person is strongly colloquial and figurative. It describes a state of extreme physical or emotional exhaustion.
EXAMPLE
Nach der langen Krankheit fühlte sie sich wie ein Wrack.
After the long illness, she felt like a wreck.
Compare with
Wrack vs Ruine
ruin
Both words can figuratively describe a person who is physically or emotionally completely exhausted. Die Ruine emphasizes the image of a destroyed or broken person more strongly, while das Wrack is the more common direct term for such a person. In everyday speech, das Wrack is therefore usually more suitable.
Wrack
Nach den vielen Krankheiten war er körperlich ein Wrack.
After all the illnesses, he was physically a wreck.
Ruine
Nach den vielen Krankheiten fühlte er sich wie eine menschliche Ruine.
After all the illnesses, he felt like a human wreck.
In real life
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