hochwürgen
To regurgitate in German is hochwürgen.
hochwürgen is used to describe the physical act of throwing up contents from the stomach. It often implies a sensation of gagging or a struggle during the process.
Meaning: to throw up (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
The word is a compound of hoch, meaning up and würgen, meaning to choke or gag.
Which one should you use?
While hochwürgen refers to the physical act of throwing up, you might use different terms depending on your intent. If you want to express the formal idea of regurgitating or reproducing acquired information, use Wiedergeben. If you want to use an informal term for ruminating that can also be used figuratively to mean regurgitation, use Wiederkäuen.
How does it change in a sentence?
The past participle hochgewürgt is used to form the perfect tense, such as in the phrase hat hochgewürgt.
Did you know?
- While hochwürgen is physical, the word würgen can also mean 'to strangle' in a violent context. Using it without the 'up' prefix hoch changes the meaning from a bodily function to a physical attack.
- The term Wiederkäuen is frequently used in German media to criticize politicians who simply repeat old, stale arguments instead of offering new ideas.
- If a person is feeling nauseous but hasn't yet thrown up, they might say they have a Kloß im Hals, meaning a 'lump in the throat'. This is the physiological precursor to the gagging implied by hochwürgen.
Examples in context
- Sie spuckt immer Fakten aus, ohne sie wirklich zu verstehen.She always spits out facts without fully understanding them.
- Ich muss das Essen gleich hochwürgen.I am going to throw up the food soon.
- Sie musste die ganze Milch hochwürgen.She had to throw up all the milk.
- Das Kind wollte den Brei hochwürgen.The child wanted to throw up the porridge.
Example conversation
Julian and Julia are at a restaurant with bad food.
- JulianDieser Fisch schmeckt wirklich schrecklich.This fish tastes really terrible.
- JuliaIch muss ihn fast wieder hochwürgen.I almost have to throw it back up.
- JulianSoll ich die Rechnung bezahlen?Should I pay the bill?
- JuliaJa, lass uns schnell gehen, Julia.Yes, let's leave quickly, Julia.
