überleben

survive

verb ue-ber-LAY-ben Less Common

Origin: from über ('over') + leben ('to live')

Usage Note

überleben is an inseparable verb (the stress stays on leben), so it stays whole: Er überlebt den Unfall ('he survives the accident'). Don't split it like a separable prefix. The noun is das Überleben ('survival').

Examples

"Nur wenige Tiere überleben den Winter."

Natural Translation

Only a few animals survive the winter.

Literal Translation

Only few animals survive the winter.

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