foltern
See also: Foltern
German
Etymology
From Late Middle High German foltern. Equivalent to Folter + -en.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈfɔltərn/, [ˈfɔl.tɐn]
Audio: (file)
Verb
foltern (weak, third-person singular present foltert, past tense folterte, past participle gefoltert, auxiliary haben)
- to torture (subject to cruel treatment)
Usage notes
- The word usually refers to torture in the strict sense (that is a method of interrogation or punishment). Otherwise one uses quälen; for example Tiere quälen (“to torture animals”). Figurative use of foltern is possible of course, but it has an even stronger tone than the English verb.
Conjugation
Conjugation of foltern (weak, auxiliary haben)
| infinitive | foltern | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| present participle | folternd | ||||
| past participle | gefoltert | ||||
| auxiliary | haben | ||||
| indicative | subjunctive | ||||
| singular | plural | singular | plural | ||
| present | ich foltre ich foltere ich folter |
wir foltern | i | ich foltere ich foltre |
wir foltern |
| du folterst | ihr foltert | du folterest du foltrest |
ihr folteret ihr foltret | ||
| er foltert | sie foltern | er foltere er foltre |
sie foltern | ||
| preterite | ich folterte | wir folterten | ii | ich folterte1 | wir folterten1 |
| du foltertest | ihr foltertet | du foltertest1 | ihr foltertet1 | ||
| er folterte | sie folterten | er folterte1 | sie folterten1 | ||
| imperative | foltre (du) folter (du) foltere (du) |
foltert (ihr) | |||
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Composed forms of foltern (weak, auxiliary haben)