adjective
drunk, intoxicated
B1
Means 'drunk' or 'intoxicated', used as an adjective or past participle (from betrinken). It is gradable (betrunkener, am betrunkensten) and contrasts with nüchtern. Not reflexive; no special preposition. Often used predicatively (Er ist betrunken) rather than attributively. Also common in colloquial speech.
Examples
Weil der Fahrer betrunken gewesen war, wurde ihm der Führerschein entzogen.
Because the driver had been drunk, his driver's license was revoked.
Nach der Feier war er so betrunken, dass er nicht mehr Auto fahren konnte.
After the party he was so drunk that he couldn't drive anymore.
Die Polizei hat mehrere stark betrunkene Besucher vom Festplatz begleitet.
The police escorted several heavily intoxicated visitors off the festival grounds.
Details
Mnemonics
Picture someone with a flushed face and unsteady steps after drinking
Sounds like 'be-trunken' — think 'trunk' (container) full of drink
not applicable (adjective)
Notes
As a participial adjective, 'betrunken' is derived from the verb and can be used predicatively or attributively (with appropriate endings). In everyday speech, 'betrunken' and 'voll' (colloquial) can both mean drunk.