Verb

betrüben

to sadden, to grieve, to distress

Diese Nachricht betrübt mich sehr.

This news saddens me greatly.

Sein Verhalten hat sie tief betrübt.

His behaviour deeply saddened her.

((j-n)) betrüben to sadden (sb.) Your words betrüben me.

Synonyms: traurig machen, kränken; Antonyms: erfreuen, aufheitern

From the prefix 'be-' and the adjective 'trüb' (cloudy, gloomy, murky). So, 'betrüben' literally means to make someone gloomy.

Think of 'trüb' like 'trouble'. To 'be-trouble' someone is to sadden them.

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