What does “atemberaubend” mean in German?

atemberaubend literally means breath-robbing — Atem is breath, berauben is to rob — and it works just like English “breathtaking”: something so stunning it almost stops your breath. Germans use it for the big moments: a sweeping view, an outstanding performance, something genuinely beautiful. Not for everyday “nice.” When the narrator stands at the top of the Victory Column looking out over the Tiergarten and much of Berlin, atemberaubend is exactly the right word.

“Von dort aus ergibt sich ein atemberaubender Blick über den Tiergarten und weite Teile Berlins.” — “From up there you get a breathtaking view over the Tiergarten and large parts of Berlin.” Die Aussicht von oben war atemberaubend. — The view from the top was breathtaking. Sie sang atemberaubend schön. — She sang breathtakingly beautifully. Ein atemberaubender Moment. — A breathtaking moment. Usage notes: In the quote you hear atemberaubender — the extra -er ending changes to match the word it sits before (here Blick, “view”). The base word is atemberaubend; the ending just adjusts to fit. Keep it for things that genuinely impress — a view, a performance, real beauty — not for small everyday things.