Ausbrechen

Ausbrechen is a German term that can function as a verb or, less commonly, as a noun. As a verb it means to break out, to escape, or to burst out, formed from the prefix aus- and the verb brechen (to break). In separable-prefix usage, the present tense forms separate, as in er bricht aus dem Gefängnis aus. In perfect tense, with sein as auxiliary, the participle is ausgebrochen: er ist aus dem Gefängnis ausgebrochen. The verb covers physical escapes as well as figurative bursts, such as breaking into laughter or emotion.

As a noun, the more usual form is der Ausbruch, which denotes the act of breaking out or an outbreak. Ausbrechen as a nominalized infinitive (das Ausbrechen) is possible but less common. The noun Ausbruch is widely used in contexts such as der Ausbruch der Krankheit (the outbreak of disease), der Ausbruch eines Vulkans (the eruption of a volcano), or der Ausbruch von Protesten (the outbreak of protests). In volcanology and epidemiology, the compound word Vulkanausbruch or Krankheitsausbruch is standard.

Usage notes: Ausbrechen is versatile across domains, including crime, health, and natural phenomena. The separable prefix form can affect word order in sentences, while the noun form adheres to standard noun capitalization. In many contexts, especially for outbreaks and eruptions, the preferred noun is Ausbruch, with Vulkanausbruch and Krankheitsausbruch common compounds.

Translations: In English, relevant meanings include to break out, to escape, to burst out, an outbreak, or an eruption, depending on context. The exact sense is determined by the situation—escape, sudden emotion, or a rapid development such as a disease outbreak or a volcanic eruption.