zerfressen
to gnaw away at
To severely damage or destroy something by eating or gnawing at it, leaving holes and other damage.
EXAMPLE
Die Mäuse haben den Sack vollständig zerfressen.
The mice completely gnawed away at the sack.
zerfressen
to gnaw away at / eat away at
zerfressen – zerfraß – hat zerfressen
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Meanings
zerfressen
to eat away at
To gradually destroy or dissolve something through a harmful process, for example through rust or acid.
EXAMPLE
Der Rost hat das alte Metall völlig zerfressen.
The rust completely ate away at the old metal.
zerfressen
to eat away at someone
To torment someone deeply and cause them emotional distress.
EXAMPLE
Die Sorge um ihre Familie zerfraß sie.
Worry about her family ate away at her.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry zerfressen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | zerfresse |
|---|---|
| du | zerfrisst |
| er/sie/es | zerfrisst |
| wir | zerfressen |
| ihr | zerfresst |
| sie | zerfressen |
Simple past
| ich | zerfraß |
|---|---|
| du | zerfraßest zerfraßt |
| er/sie/es | zerfraß |
| wir | zerfraßen |
| ihr | zerfraßt |
| sie | zerfraßen |
Perfect
with haben
| ich | habe zerfressen |
|---|---|
| du | hast zerfressen |
| er/sie/es | hat zerfressen |
| wir | haben zerfressen |
| ihr | habt zerfressen |
| sie | haben zerfressen |
Commands
| du | zerfriss! zerfresse! |
|---|---|
| ihr | zerfresst! |
| Sie | zerfressen Sie! |
Past perfect
| ich | hatte zerfressen |
|---|---|
| du | hattest zerfressen |
| er/sie/es | hatte zerfressen |
| wir | hatten zerfressen |
| ihr | hattet zerfressen |
| sie | hatten zerfressen |
Future
| ich | werde zerfressen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst zerfressen |
| er/sie/es | wird zerfressen |
| wir | werden zerfressen |
| ihr | werdet zerfressen |
| sie | werden zerfressen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | zerfresse |
|---|---|
| du | zerfressest |
| er/sie/es | zerfresse |
| wir | zerfressen |
| ihr | zerfresset |
| sie | zerfressen |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | zerfräße |
|---|---|
| du | zerfräßest |
| er/sie/es | zerfräße |
| wir | zerfräßen |
| ihr | zerfräßet |
| sie | zerfräßen |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | zerfressen |
|---|---|
| with zu | zu zerfressen |
| present participle | zerfressend |
| past participle | zerfressen |
Usage tips
Word formation
'Zerfressen' (to gnaw away at) consists of the prefix 'zer-' and the verb 'fressen' (to eat). Here, 'zer-' indicates severe destruction or dissolution, so that the original form is damaged.
EXAMPLE
Die Larven haben die Blätter völlig zerfressen.
The larvae completely gnawed away at the leaves.
Inseparable verb
'Zerfressen' (to gnaw away at) is inseparable because of the prefix 'zer-'. In both main and subordinate clauses, the prefix remains attached to the verb; in a subordinate clause, the finite verb comes at the end.
EXAMPLE
Die Säure zerfrisst das Metall.
The acid eats away at the metal.
Der Techniker bemerkte, dass die Säure das Metall zerfrisst.
The technician noticed that the acid eats away at the metal.
Context clue
A specific animal as the cause and visible holes usually point to damage caused by eating or gnawing. Rust or acid points to the destruction of a material, while abstract subjects such as worry or guilt usually express emotional distress.
EXAMPLE
Die Käfer zerfressen die Blätter des Baumes.
The beetles are gnawing away at the tree's leaves.
Der Rost zerfrisst das Metall.
The rust is eating away at the metal.
Die Schuld zerfrisst ihn seit Jahren.
Guilt has been eating away at him for years.
Typical collocations
In the meaning of damage caused by animals, 'zerfressen' (to gnaw away at) often occurs with words such as 'Mäuse' (mice), 'Ratten' (rats), 'Larven' (larvae), 'Holz' (wood), or 'Wurzeln' (roots). It often refers to many small areas of damage or holes in an object or plant.
EXAMPLE
Die Larven zerfressen die Wurzeln der jungen Pflanzen.
The larvae are gnawing away at the roots of the young plants.
Material damage
When something is destroyed by rust or chemicals, the material is often the object of 'zerfressen' (to eat away at). Typical collocations are 'Rost zerfrisst Metall' (rust eats away at metal) and 'Säure zerfrisst eine Oberfläche' (acid eats away at a surface).
EXAMPLE
Der Rost zerfrisst die Eisenstreben der alten Brücke.
The rust is eating away at the iron supports of the old bridge.
Emotional distress
In its figurative meaning, 'zerfressen' (to eat away at someone) often occurs with abstract subjects such as worry, fear, doubt, or guilt. The affected person is usually the accusative object.
EXAMPLE
Die ständige Angst zerfraß ihn langsam.
Constant fear slowly ate away at him.
In real life
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