German word

Gefecht

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈfɛçt/

Meaning

  • neuter nounbattle

Example

Das Gefecht dauerte nur wenige Minuten.

The battle lasted only a few minutes.

Illustration for Gefecht (battle)

More examples

Die Einheiten trugen ein kurzes Gefecht aus.

The units fought a brief battle.

Core concept

A brief, localized armed encounter between opposing forces, rather than a whole campaign.

Common phrases

  • ein Gefecht austragen

    fight a battle

  • in ein Gefecht geraten

    get into a battle

  • ein kurzes Gefecht

    a brief battle

Similar words

Kampf: Fighting or struggle involving force, weapons, or sustained effort.
Streit: A quarrel or dispute expressed through words or conflicting opinions.
Schlacht: A large, organized battle between armies, often decisive.
Scharmützel: A small, improvised military skirmish between opposing forces.

Definition in German

Kurz andauernde militärische Auseinandersetzung zwischen bewaffneten Gruppen.

Word origin

Gefecht developed from Middle High German geveht and is related to fechten, meaning 'to fight', through an older Germanic noun formation.

Usage tips

  • Gefecht is neuter, so the standard forms are das Gefecht and die Gefechte.

Other meanings

  • engagementnoun
  • skirmishnoun
  • clashnoun

Opposites

Related words

  • Gefechtsführungbattle commandnoun
  • gefechtsbereitbattle-readyadjective

Word lists with this word