German word

Verlauf

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈlaʊ̯f/

Meaning

  • masculine nouncourse

Example

Der Verlauf des Gesprächs war ruhig.

The conversation proceeded calmly.

Illustration for Verlauf (course)

More examples

Im weiteren Verlauf griffen sie das Thema erneut auf.

As things progressed, they took up the topic again.

Core concept

The changing path of an event, process, or conversation over time.

Common phrases

  • im Verlauf des Gesprächs

    in the course of the conversation

  • im weiteren Verlauf

    in the course of what followed

  • im Verlauf des Projekts

    in the course of the project

Similar words

Ablauf: The sequence in which an event or task proceeds.
Entwicklung: The way something changes and develops over time.
Fortschritt: Visible progress toward a goal or further stage.
Vorgang: A single process or procedure as it takes place.

Definition in German

Der Verlauf bezeichnet die zeitliche Abfolge oder Entwicklung eines Prozesses, Ereignisses oder Gesprächs.

Word origin

Verlauf comes from the verb verlaufen, whose parts are ver- and laufen; Lauf belongs to an old Germanic word family for running or flowing.

Usage tips

  • English course can translate Verlauf, but Verlauf is not the usual German word for a school course, which is Kurs.

Other meanings

  • progressnoun
  • historynoun
  • trendnoun

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word