verschulden
Translation
to get into debt, to cause, to be at fault for
Examples
Er hat sich bei der Bank verschuldet.
He got into debt with the bank.
Der Fahrer verschuldete den Unfall.
The driver caused the accident.
Grammar Patterns
((refl.)) ((bei j-m)) to get into debt with sb. He got into debt with his friends.
((et4)) to cause sth. Who was at fault for this mistake?
Similar Words
Synonyms: verursachen (to cause), Schulden machen (to incur debts); Antonyms: schuldenfrei (debt-free)
Etymology
Composed of the prefix `ver-` (often indicating a negative outcome or completion) and `Schuld` (debt, fault). It literally means 'to get into debt' or 'to incur fault'.
Memory Tips
Imagine someone has a lot of `Schuld` (debt) and it's `ver-` (stuck) to them, making them indebted.