spinnen
Translation
to spin, to be crazy, to talk nonsense, to be nuts
Examples
Die Spinne spinnt ein Netz.
The spider is spinning a web.
Du spinnst wohl!
You must be crazy!
Früher haben die Frauen Wolle gesponnen.
In the past, women spun wool.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to spin sth. The grandmother spins wool.
(colloquial) to be crazy He is totally crazy.
Similar Words
Synonyms: weben (to weave), verrückt sein (to be crazy)
Etymology
From Old High German 'spinnan', cognate with English 'spin'. The meaning 'to be crazy' comes from the idea of thoughts spinning out of control.
Memory Tips
Think of the English word 'spin'. A spider 'spins' a web, and when someone is crazy, their thoughts are 'spinning'.