stolpern
Translation
to stumble, to trip
Examples
Ich bin über einen Stein gestolpert.
I stumbled over a stone.
Er stolperte über seine eigenen Worte.
He stumbled over his own words.
Grammar Patterns
((über+4)) to stumble over (sth.) I stumbled over the edge of the carpet.
Similar Words
Synonyms: straucheln (to falter), hinfallen (to fall down)
Etymology
Derived from Middle High German 'stolpern', connected to the idea of hitting a 'stump'. The 'st-' prefix often denotes an abrupt stop.
Memory Tips
Think of how you might 'stop' suddenly when you 'stumble' over an obstacle. It sounds a bit like 'stumble'.