das  Zerwürfnis

C1

Estimated CEFR level.

/t͡sɛɐ̯ˈvʏʁfnɪs/

💔 What does 'das Zerwürfnis' mean?

Das Zerwürfnis (noun, neuter) refers to a state of serious disagreement, a profound quarrel, or a rift in a relationship between people, groups, or parties. It often implies disturbed communication and emotional distance.

It signifies a condition that goes beyond a simple difference of opinion (Meinungsverschiedenheit) and is often difficult to overcome.

⚠️ Note: This word only takes the article das. It describes the state of being estranged or at odds.

🧐 Grammar in Detail: Das Zerwürfnis

The noun Zerwürfnis is neuter (sächlich) and uses the article das. It's a strong noun.

📝 Example Sentences

1. Nach dem heftigen Streit kam es zu einem tiefen Zerwürfnis zwischen den beiden Freunden.
   (After the fierce argument, there was a deep rift between the two friends.)
2. Das Zerwürfnis in der Partei führte zu einer Spaltung.
   (The disagreement within the party led to a split.)
3. Es bedurfte vieler Gespräche, um das Zerwürfnis zu überwinden.
   (It took many conversations to overcome the rift.)
4. Die Ursache des Zerwürfnisses lag in einem alten Missverständnis.
   (The cause of the quarrel lay in an old misunderstanding.)

🗣️ How to use 'Zerwürfnis'?

Das Zerwürfnis is used to describe a serious and often long-lasting disruption in a relationship. It's stronger than a simple Meinungsverschiedenheit (disagreement) or a short Streit (argument, quarrel).

• Context: Often used for personal relationships (friends, family, couples), but also in political or business contexts (between parties, companies, countries).
• Connotation: Rather negative, implying emotional pain, breach of trust, or estrangement.
• Comparison:
  • Streit (der): Can also be brief and less profound.
  • Meinungsverschiedenheit (die): Primarily refers to differing views, not necessarily a relationship breakdown.
  • Konflikt (der): A broader term that can include, but isn't limited to, a Zerwürfnis.

One often speaks of a tiefes Zerwürfnis (deep rift) or that es kommt/kam zu einem Zerwürfnis (a rift occurs/occurred).

🧠 Mnemonics to Remember

For the article 'das': Think of abstract states often being neuter in German: das Glück (luck), das Pech (bad luck), das Verhältnis (the relationship). A Zerwürfnis affects das Verhältnis.

For the meaning: Imagine two people throwing (werfen) accusations back and forth until everything is shattered (zer-) and thrown apart. The result is the state of being thrown apart – das Zerwürfnis.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms for Zerwürfnis

🚨 Beware of confusion: Don't confuse Zerwürfnis with Verwurf (reproach, accusation) or Entwurf (draft, sketch).

😂 A Little Joke

Warum haben sich die beiden Fäden zerstritten?

Es gab zu viele ungelöste Zerwürfnisse und keiner wollte nachgeben – jetzt hängen sie beide lose herum! 😉

(Why did the two threads fall out?)

(There were too many unresolved tangles/quarrels (Zerwürfnisse) and neither would give way – now they're both hanging loose!) 😉

📜 A Little Poem

Wo Worte fielen, hart und schwer,
liegt nun ein Schweigen, tief und leer.
Das Zerwürfnis, kalt und grau,
macht Herzen wund, man weiß genau.
Wo Lachen war, ist nun nur Schmerz,
ein Riss geht tief durch jedes Herz.

(Where words fell, hard and heavy,
now lies a silence, deep and empty.
The rift, cold and grey,
makes hearts sore, one knows exactly.
Where laughter was, is now just pain,
a tear runs deep through every heart.)

🕵️ A Riddle about Zerwürfnis

Ich bin kein Ding, doch wiegt oft schwer,
ich wachse aus Streit und bring' Beschwer.
Ich trenne Freunde, Familie, Paar,
bin unsichtbar, doch immer da.
Man spricht von mir, wenn nichts mehr geht,
und Harmonie der Wind verweht.

Was bin ich? (Auflösung: Das Zerwürfnis)

(I am not a thing, yet often weigh heavily,
I grow from quarrels and bring grievance.
I separate friends, family, couples,
am invisible, yet always there.
People speak of me when nothing works anymore,
and harmony is blown away by the wind.)

What am I? (Answer: Das Zerwürfnis / The rift/quarrel)

🧩 Further Insights

Word Formation (Wortbildung):

The word Zerwürfnis is composed of:

• Prefix zer-: Often indicates separation, destruction, or coming apart (as in zerbrechen - to shatter, zerreißen - to tear apart).
• Stem of werfen (to throw): In a figurative sense, it can mean that relationships or arguments are thrown into disarray, discarded.
• Suffix -nis: Often forms abstract nouns denoting a state or result (as in Ereignis - event, Ergebnis - result, Geheimnis - secret).

So, it literally describes the state of 'being thrown apart' or 'being at odds'.