drohen

Drohen is a German verb that means to threaten or to menace, indicating that negative consequences are likely or imminent. It can describe a direct threat to someone, or a looming danger in general, such as weather or future penalties.

Grammatical notes and usage: Drohen is often used with a dative object for the person or entity being threatened. For example: Der Mann droht dem Kind mit dem Stock. It can also occur impersonally: Es droht Gefahr, Es drohen schwere Folgen. In the present tense, the forms are: ich drohe, du drohst, er droht, wir drohen, ihr droht, sie drohen. The simple past is: ich drohte, du drohtest, er drohte, wir drohten, ihr drohtet, sie drohten. The past participle is gedroht.

Common contexts and examples: Drohen is used in everyday language to describe potential outcomes or menacing behavior. Examples include: Der Sturm droht der Küste; Es drohen Regenfälle; Politische Rhetorik wie Der Rechtsstaat droht dem Unrechtsregime. When describing a person as the source of intimidation, the verb often appears with mit + Dativ for the instrument: Der Anführer droht dem Gegner mit Klagen.

Difference from verwandte Verben: Bedrohen means to threaten someone directly and takes a direct object (jemanden/etwas bedrohen). Drohen emphasizes the threat or risk and is typically used with a dative for the person threatened or in impersonal constructions, sometimes focusing on consequences rather than direct attack.

Legal and social context: In German law, Bedrohung is a crime, and drohen can describe such behavior. In everyday language, drohen expresses looming danger or potential consequences rather than a guaranteed attack.