blühen

Blühen is a German verb meaning to bloom or to flower. It describes the process by which a plant develops blossoms and enters a flowering stage. In botany and horticulture, the term marks the period when blossoms appear, often influenced by light, temperature, and seasonal cues. The verb is also used metaphorically to denote flourishing or thriving in non-plant contexts, such as a person, city, or business.

Origin and related terms: Blühen comes from the Germanic language family and is closely linked to the noun Blüte (flower) and to cognates in other Germanic languages, such as Dutch bloeien. The related noun Blütezeit denotes the flowering season. The word appears in everyday language as well as in literature.

Conjugation and forms: In present tense: ich blühe, du blühst, er blüht, wir blühen, ihr blüht, sie blühen. The simple past is blühte; the perfect is geblüht (e.g., Die Pflanzen haben geblüht). The present participle is blühend, and the noun for the plant’s flowers is die Blüte.

Usage and examples: In botany, "Die Kirschbäume blühen im Frühjahr." In metaphorical use, "eine Stadt blüht auf" or "eine Region beginnt aufzublühen" describe flourishing after a period of decline. The related compound "aufblühen" is used broadly to denote flourishing in people, economies, or cultures.