ersticken
Translation
to suffocate, to choke, to stifle
Examples
Er ist fast am Essen erstickt.
He almost choked on the food.
Die Decke erstickte das Feuer.
The blanket smothered the fire.
Sie erstickte ein Gähnen.
She stifled a yawn.
Grammar Patterns
((an+3)) to choke on sth. He choked on a bone.
((sth.)) to stifle/suffocate sth. The heat is almost suffocating me.
Similar Words
Synonyms: würgen (to strangle), erdrosseln (to throttle)
Etymology
The prefix 'er-' often indicates a process leading to a result (often fatal) + 'sticken', related to 'sticking'. The breath gets 'stuck'.
Memory Tips
Imagine something 'sticking' in your throat, causing you to choke. The 'er-' prefix emphasizes the final, often fatal, result of this process.