German

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Etymology

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zer- +‎ sprageln. Cognate with Bavarian zspragln.

Pronunciation

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  • IPA(key): /t͡sɛɐ̯ˈʃpʁaːɡəln/
  • Hyphenation: zer‧spra‧geln

Verb

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zersprageln (weak, third-person singular present zerspragelt, past tense zerspragelte, past participle zerspragelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (chiefly Austria, informal) to split, to split something up
    Synonyms: aufteilen, auseinandernehmen, zersplittern, zerteilen
    Dieses Holz ist zerspragelt.This piece of wood is split.
  2. (chiefly Austria, informal, reflexive, by extension) to split oneself up, to be in different places or perform several activities at the same time
    Synonyms: (reflexive) aufteilen, zerreißen
    Ich kann mich doch nicht zersprageln.I can't be in different places at the same time.
  3. (chiefly Austria, informal, reflexive, by extension) to labour, to struggle, to wear out, to work oneself into the ground
    Synonyms: (reflexive) aufreiben, abkämpfen, abmühen, abrackern
    Ich habe mich für die Firma zerspragelt.I've worked myself into the ground for the company.

Conjugation

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Further reading

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