German

Verb

erschrecken ‎(class 4 strong, third-person singular simple present erschrickt, past tense erschrak, past participle erschrocken, auxiliary sein or haben)

1. (standard, intransitive, auxiliary sein) to be frightened; to be startled

   Ich bin erschrocken. – I got scared.

2. (chiefly colloquial, reflexive, auxiliary haben) to be frightened; to be startled

   Ich habe mich erschrocken. – I got scared.

3. (dated, transitive, auxiliary haben) to frighten; to scare (someone)

   Bebt er, ihr Schwestern, was, / Redet, erschrickt ihn? – Heinrich von Kleist ("Mädchenrätsel")

   When he quakes, you sisters, what, / Speak, scares him?

Usage notes

In the modern standard language there is a split between the strong intransitive verb and the weak transitive/reflexive verb (see below). However, the strong verb may also be used reflexively, albeit chiefly in the vernacular. In older German, the strong verb was even used transitively.

Conjugation

Verb

erschrecken ‎(third-person singular simple present erschreckt, past tense erschreckte, past participle erschreckt, auxiliary haben)

1. (transitive) to frighten; to scare (someone)

   Du hast mich erschreckt. – You scared me.

2. (reflexive) to be frightened; to be startled

   Ich habe mich erschreckt. – I got scared.

Conjugation

Related terms

• abschrecken
• aufschrecken
• verschrecken

See also

• aufscheuchen
• verscheuchen
• vertreiben
• vergrämen
• vergräzen