Ways to say it
| German | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|
| zerstören | /t͡sɛɐ̯ˈʃtøːʁən/ | |
| vernichten | /fɛɐ̯ˈnɪçtən/ | |
| kaputtmachen | colloquial |
To express the idea of damaging something beyond use or repair, German offers several words depending on the scale and context of the destruction.
Which one should you use?
The choice between these words depends on what is being destroyed. zerstören is used for the physical destruction of objects, buildings or structures. In contrast, vernichten implies total annihilation or the complete wiping out of something, such as an army, a population or evidence. For everyday objects like toys or electronics, the colloquial kaputtmachen is used to mean something was broken or ruined.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
zerstören and vernichten are neutral terms. kaputtmachen is a colloquial and much more casual way to say something was broken or ruined.
How does it change in a sentence?
zerstören is a weak verb, so its simple past is zerstörte and its past participle is zerstört. kaputtmachen is a separable verb.
How do you pronounce it?
/tsɛɐ̯ˈʃtøːʁən/
Did you know?
- The word kaputt in kaputtmachen is not originally German, but was borrowed from the Vulgar Latin 'caput' meaning 'head', via French and Italian.
- While zerstören means 'destroy', the base verb stören means 'to disturb' or 'to annoy', showing how a small prefix changes a minor nuisance into total devastation.
- In casual German, people often use kaputt as an adjective to describe being exhausted, as in 'I am completely destroyed' after a long day.
Examples in context
- Wir müssen das Beweismaterial vernichten.We must destroy the evidence.This sentence is useful for practicing the use of vernichten regarding evidence.Tatoeba #3316349 by pne, translation #1115018 by CM
- Wir müssen den Schildgenerator zerstören.We need to destroy the shield generator.This sentence demonstrates using zerstören for a mechanical object.Tatoeba #7010365 by Pfirsichbaeumchen, translation #7010234 by Hybrid
- Die Substanz kann auch Pflanzen vernichten.The substance can also destroy plants.This sentence shows how vernichten can be used in the context of destroying living organisms.Tatoeba #4158732 by Esperantostern, translation #5313471 by Objectivesea
- Die Bombe hat das Gebäude zerstörtThe bomb destroyed the building.
- Die Armee vernichtete den FeindThe army annihilated the enemy.
- Das Feuer hat das Dorf ausradiertThe fire erased the village.
- Mein Sohn hat das Spielzeug kaputt gemachtMy son broke the toy.
- Ich werde dich plattmachen!I will crush you!
- Wenn jemand dein Auto zerstört, solltest du zur Polizei gehen.If someone destroys your car, you should go to the police.
- Das Erdbeben hat das ganze Gebäude zum Einsturz gebracht.The earthquake caused the entire building to collapse.
- Der Tornado hat die Stadt völlig zerstört.The tornado completely destroyed the city.
- Durch den Brand wurde das historische Gebäude aus dem 18. Jahrhundert unwiederbringlich vernichtet.The fire irretrievably destroyed the historical 18th-century building.
- 17 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Sarah and Julian are talking about an old building.
- SarahWarum wollen sie das alte Haus zerstören?Why do they want to destroy the old house?
- JulianEs ist leider nicht mehr zu retten.Unfortunately, it cannot be saved anymore.
- SarahEs ist traurig, wenn man Geschichte zerstört.It is sad when you destroy history.
- JulianJa, aber es ist zu gefährlich.Yes, but it is too dangerous.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “destroy” translations and entries zerstören, vernichten, kaputtmachen, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaputtmachen, vernichten, zerstören, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
