See also: Foltern

German edit

Etymology edit

From Late Middle High German foltern. Equivalent to Folter +‎ -en.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /ˈfɔltərn/, [ˈfɔl.tɐn]
  • (file)

Verb edit

foltern (weak, third-person singular present foltert, past tense folterte, past participle gefoltert, auxiliary haben)

  1. to torture (subject to cruel treatment)

Usage notes edit

  • The word usually refers to torture in the strict sense (that is a method of interrogation or punishment). Otherwise one uses quälen; for example Tiere quälen (to torture animals). Figurative use of foltern is possible of course, but it has an even stronger tone than the English verb.

Conjugation edit

Related terms edit

Further reading edit

  • foltern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • foltern” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • foltern” in Duden online
  • foltern” in OpenThesaurus.de