zusammenbricht

Zusammenbricht is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb zusammenbrechen, which means to collapse or break down. In standard German, verbs with separable prefixes like zusammenbrechen typically split in the main clause, so the common present-tense construction is er bricht zusammen rather than er zusammenbricht. The form together with other inflections is used when describing an event occurring to a subject.

Etymology and meaning: The verb is formed from zusammen (together/along) and brechen (to break). It has a broad semantic range, referring to physical collapse of structures, the breakdown of systems or institutions, and mental or emotional collapse of a person. Metaphorically, it can describe situations, processes, or mechanisms that fail under pressure.

Usage and senses:

- Physical or structural collapse: Der Turm bricht zusammen. (The tower collapses.)

- Systemic or institutional failure: Das Wirtschaftssystem bricht zusammen. (The economic system collapses.)

- Mental or emotional breakdown: Nach dem Stress bricht er zusammen. (He collapses/loses it emotionally.)

- In many contexts, zusammenbrechen is intransitive and does not take a direct object; the subject is the thing that collapses.

Grammatical notes: The perfect tense is formed with sein: Der Turm ist zusammengebrochen. In subordinate clauses or other tenses, the prefix remains attached or the verb is conjugated with the appropriate auxiliary. The noun form “Zusammenbruch” denotes the event of collapsing or a collapse in general, such as political or economic collapse.

See also: Zusammenbruch (collapse, noun); zusammenbrechen synonyms or related terms include kollabieren.

This article addresses the usage of the form related to the verb zusammenbrechen, including its meanings, grammar, and common contexts.