verderben
Translation
to spoil, to ruin, to go bad, to corrupt
Examples
Das Essen wird in der Hitze schnell verderben.
The food will spoil quickly in the heat.
Zu viel Ehrgeiz kann den Charakter verderben.
Too much ambition can corrupt one's character.
Er hat sich den Magen verdorben.
He upset his stomach.
Lass dir die Laune nicht verderben.
Don't let it spoil your mood.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to spoil, to ruin sth. Too much salt spoils the soup.
(intransitive) to go bad, to spoil The milk has spoiled.
((sich dat.)) ((sth. acc.)) to upset sth. for oneself I've upset my stomach.
((sb.)) to corrupt sb. Power can corrupt people.
Similar Words
Etymology
The prefix 'ver-' often implies a negative result or a process of ruination, like 'mis-' or 'for-'. 'Derben' is linked to ancient terms for 'to harm'. Thus, it means 'to cause harm' or 'to go awry'.
Memory Tips
Associate the 'ver-' prefix with a negative transformation. Imagine a 'very' bad apple that starts to 'verderben' (spoil).