zusammenbrechen

Zusammenbrechen is a German verb that means to collapse or to break down completely. It can describe a physical event, such as a building, bridge, or machine failing, and it can also refer to a person or system that loses function under pressure. In everyday language it is used for any abrupt failure or incapacity, including emotional or mental breakdowns.

Grammar and usage: zusammenbrechen is typically treated as an intransitive verb. In present tense you would say, for example, die Brücke bricht zusammen or ich breche zusammen. The simple past is often die Brücke brach zusammen, while the present perfect is die Brücke ist zusammengebrochen. The past participle is zusammengebrochen, with ist or has depending on auxiliary usage. The prefix zusammen- conveys the sense of breaking apart from a previously united whole.

Contexts and nuance: physical collapses are common contexts, such as infrastructure failing after a disaster or a machine breaking down. Metaphorical use is frequent as well, for instance when a person’s nerves give way under stress or an organization fails under pressure. The verbients are typically used without a direct object, though it can be extended with adverbial phrases like unter Druck, durch Überlastung, or nach dem Schock to specify the cause or context.

See also: Zusammenbruch is the noun form referring to a collapse or breakdown. Related terms include kollabieren (borrowed/medical usage) and zusammenfallen as a related sense of coming apart. Zusammenbrechen should not be confused with other German words for breaking, such as zerbrechen (to break into pieces, often of objects).