stocken
Translation
to falter, to stall, to hesitate, to curdle
Examples
Der Verkehr stockt auf der Autobahn.
The traffic is stalling on the highway.
Sein Atem stockte vor Schreck.
His breath caught in fear.
Die Verhandlungen sind ins Stocken geraten.
The negotiations have come to a standstill.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) stalls / stops The traffic is stalling.
((sb.'s)) breath catches Mir stockte der Atem.
Similar Words
anhalten (to stop), zögern (to hesitate), gerinnen (to curdle)
Etymology
Related to 'der Stock' (stick, cane). The idea is of becoming stiff and immobile, like a stick.
Memory Tips
Imagine traffic becoming 'stuck' and still, like a 'Stock' (stick) in the ground. Or your speech getting stuck.