ein|brechen
Translation
to break in, to burgle, to collapse, to set in (darkness)
Examples
Diebe brachen in das Haus ein.
Thieves broke into the house.
Das Eis brach unter ihm ein.
The ice broke under him.
Die Dunkelheit brach schnell ein.
The darkness set in quickly.
Grammar Patterns
((in+4)) einbrechen to break into sth. Thieves broke into the house.
einbrechen to collapse The ice broke in.
einbrechen to set in (darkness, night) The darkness set in.
Similar Words
Synonyms: eindringen (to penetrate); Antonyms: sichern (to secure)
Etymology
A combination of 'ein-' (in, into) and 'brechen' (to break). The literal meaning is 'to break into'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'breaking in'. The German is a direct equivalent. For other meanings like 'collapse', imagine the ground 'breaking' and caving 'in'.