zerbrechen

Meaning

1. (class-4,strong) to break; break down, destroy
2. (class-4,strong) to shatter; smash
3. (class-4,strong) to fracture, snap

Pronounced as (IPA)

[tsɐˈbʁɛçn̩]

Etymology

From Middle High German zerbrechen, ziprechen (also as zoprechen, zuprechen, zurprechen), from Old High German zibrehhan zirbrehhan, from Proto-Germanic *tebrekaną, *twizbrekaną (“to break apart, break in two”), equivalent to zer- + brechen. Cognate with archaic English tobreak.