blitzen

You use it as a passive experience most of the time. If you were speeding, you say Ich wurde geblitzt. If you are warning a friend about a specific street, you say Pass auf, dort wird oft geblitzt. It functions just like a regular verb. You can also use it for jewelry that sparkles or a camera flash at a party. But 90% of the time, it is about traffic tickets.

Use it when discussing your commute or travel plans. It is perfect for complaining about a bad day. If you see a bright flash while driving, tell your passenger immediately. It is a common topic at the office coffee machine. Everyone has a story about a hidden camera behind a bush. It is a great way to bond over shared frustration.

Do not use it if you are talking about a long, steady light. It must be a sudden burst. Avoid using it in very formal legal documents; lawyers prefer Geschwindigkeitsüberschreitung. Do not use it for a flashlight beam, which is leuchten. If you use it to describe a person, it might sound like they are moving at light speed, which is rare.

Germany is famous for the Autobahn, but city speed limits are strictly enforced. The 'Blitzer' (speed camera) is a legendary villain in German culture. There are even radio stations that announce 'Blitzer-Meldungen' every half hour. Germans have a love-hate relationship with these devices. They value order but hate the 'Starenkasten' (birdhouse-style camera) hiding in the trees.

The noun der Blitzer is the camera itself. Aufblitzen describes a sudden thought or a brief spark of light. Abblitzen is a funny one; it means to be rejected or 'shot down' by someone you like. If you try to flirt and fail, you blitzen ab. It is like the person's 'no' was a flash that sent you away.