verletzen
Translation
to injure, to violate, to hurt (feelings)
Examples
Er hat sich am Bein verletzt.
He injured his leg.
Das verletzt meine Gefühle.
That hurts my feelings.
Sie haben das Gesetz verletzt.
They have violated the law.
Grammar Patterns
sich⁴ ((an+3)) to injure oneself (on sth.) He injured his arm.
((sb.)) to hurt sb. Your words hurt me.
((sth.)) to violate sth. That violates the rules.
Similar Words
Synonyms: verwunden (to wound), schaden (to harm), kränken (to offend); Antonyms: heilen (to heal), schützen (to protect)
Etymology
From the prefix 'ver-' (often with a negative or damaging connotation) + the old German word 'letzen' (to harm).
Memory Tips
The prefix 'ver-' often means something went wrong. Think of it as making something 'less' or 'wrong'. To make someone's body 'wrong' is to injure them.