absorbieren
/ˌabzɔʁˈbiːrən/
To absorb in German is absorbieren.
absorbieren is used to describe the process of sucking up or drinking in a substance or information.
Meaning: to suck up or drink in (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
The third-person singular present form of absorbieren is absorbiert (absorbs / absorbed). The simple past form, known as the Präteritum, is absorbierte (absorbed).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˌabzɔʁˈbiːrən/
Did you know?
- When referring to someone being 'absorbed' in a book or hobby, Germans use the reflexive phrase sich vertiefen, meaning 'to deepen oneself'.
- In a metaphorical sense, to 'absorb' a cost or a loss in German business contexts, one often uses schlucken, which means 'to swallow'.
- If a person is 'totally absorbed' by an emotion or a state of mind, a German might say they are gebannt, which is the same word used for being 'spellbound' or 'under a spell'.
Examples in context
- Sonnenschutzcreme enthält Stoffe, welche das ultraviolette Licht zurückwerfen oder absorbieren.Sunblock contains chemicals that can reflect or absorb the ultraviolet light.This sentence shows how chemicals can reflect or absorbieren ultraviolet light.Tatoeba #6308012 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #5322386 by Hybrid
- Tom war ein intergalaktisches Genie, das innerhalb weniger Sekunden – er musste sich nur einmal kurz darauf konzentrieren – sämtliche Sprachen der Erde telepathisch absorbieren und dann besser als jeder Muttersprachler sprechen konnte.Tom was an intergalactic genius who, within the space of just a few short seconds of concentration, could absorb telepathically all the languages on Earth and then speak them better than any native.This sentence describes a character's ability to telepathically absorbieren all languages.Tatoeba #5239308 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #10681848 by sundown
- Hier wird Wissen aufgenommen.Knowledge is being absorbed here.
- Der Schwamm nimmt das Wasser auf.The sponge absorbs the water.
- Die Pflanzenwurzeln nehmen Nährstoffe aus dem Boden auf.The plant roots absorb nutrients from the soil.
- Ich habe das Buch förmlich eingesogen.I practically absorbed the book.
- Die Kinder haben das Wissen gierig eingeatmet.The children eagerly absorbed the knowledge.
- Er hat das Neue wie ein Schwamm aufgesogen.He soaked up the new information like a sponge.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Maximilian and Sarah are discussing a new sponge for cleaning.
- MaximilianDieser Schwamm kann viel mehr Wasser absorbieren.This sponge can absorb much more water.
- SarahWirklich? Das wäre sehr praktisch für die Küche.Really? That would be very practical for the kitchen.
- MaximilianJa, er kann Flüssigkeiten sehr schnell absorbieren.Yes, it can absorb liquids very quickly.
- SarahDann sollten wir ihn sofort kaufen.Then we should buy it immediately.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry absorbieren, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
