säubern

German

Etymology

From Middle High German [Term?], from Old High German [Term?].

Derived from sauber (“clean”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzɔʏ̯bəʁn/, [ˈzɔʏ̯bɐn]

• Audio:

  (file)

Verb

1. to clean, to cleanse

Usage notes

Säubern also is used in political context: eine Organisation säubern "to remove politically unwanted persons from an organisation". One cannot use saubermachen and reinigen in this context.

Synonyms

• saubermachen
• reinigen

Derived terms

• Säuberung
• versäubern

Further reading

• “säubern” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache
• “säubern” in Duden online