dümpeln

German

Etymology

Via German Low German from Middle Low German dümpelen. Probably related to Tümpel (“shallow pond”). Cognate with Dutch dompelen.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈdʏmpəln/
  • Audio(file)

Verb

dümpeln (weak, third-person singular present dümpelt, past tense dümpelte, past participle gedümpelt, auxiliary haben)

  1. (of boats) to be tied up bobbing up and down in the water
    Unser Boot dümpelte am Ufer des flachen Weihers.
    Our boat was bobbing at the shore of the shallow pond.
  2. (figurative) to be stuck; to be inactive or unsuccessful; to make no substantial progress
    Der Klub dümpelt seit Jahren in der 5. Liga.
    The club has been stuck in the 5th division for years.

Conjugation

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Further reading
  • “dümpeln” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
  • “dümpeln” in Uni Leipzig: Wortschatz-Lexikon
  • “dümpeln” in Duden online
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