trüben

Trüben is a German verb meaning to cause something to become cloudy, muddy, or dull. It applies to tangible things such as water, glass, or air, where light is diffused and clarity decreases, and to abstract domains such as moods, views, or prospects, where it denotes a dampening of clarity or cheer. The related adjective trüb describes the resulting state, meaning cloudy, murky, or somber.

Usage spans physical and figurative contexts. In physical terms, one might say, for example, "Der Schlamm trübte das Wasser," or "Der Staub trübt das Wasser." In figurative terms, trüben is used to express a negative effect on perception or mood, as in "Die Nachricht trübte seine Freude" or "Die Aussicht wurde durch den Unfall getrübt" or "Die Stimmung trübte sich." In common speech, expressions like "etwas trübt die Stimmung" are standard.

Conjugation and forms. Present: ich trübe, du trübst, er/sie/es trübt, wir trüben, ihr trübt, sie trüben. Präteritum: ich trübte, du trübtest, er trübte, wir trübten, ihr trübtet, sie trübten. Partizip II: getrübt. The verb is transitive in most uses, with the subject causing the clouding of the object, while certain figurative uses focus on the resulting state (trüb sein).

Etymology and related terms. Trüben derives from the adjective trüb, meaning cloudy or dull, with the standard German verb-forming suffix -en. Related terms include trüb, Trübe and, in broader sense, synonyms such as verschleiern or verdunkeln for metaphorical contexts.

See also: trüb, Trübe, aufhellen, klären.