verb
to flash
B1
Blitzen means 'to flash' (lightning, camera). It's a regular weak verb forming the past participle geblitzt and the present participle blitzend. Uses haben for perfect tenses. Non‑reflexive and not separable. Common impersonal use: 'Es blitzt' for lightning. Can also mean camera flash or sudden bright light.
Examples
Es blitzt am Himmel.
There's lightning in the sky.
In der Nacht begann es zu blitzen und Donner zu rollen.
At night it began to flash with lightning and the thunder rolled.
Während es draußen heftig blitzte, suchten die Spaziergänger Schutz unter einer Brücke.
While lightning flashed heavily outside, the walkers sought shelter under a bridge.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a camera flash or a bolt of lightning flashing across the sky.
Think of 'blitz' + 'en' — like a sudden 'blitz' (flash).
Notes
Typically intransitive (it flashes). For a camera flash use the same verb; perfect tense uses 'haben'. | Intransitive verb; passive forms are not applicable.