German word

befallen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈfalən/

Meaning

  • verboverwhelm

Example

Plötzlich befiel ihn große Angst.

Suddenly, great fear overwhelmed him.

Illustration for befallen (overwhelm)

More examples

Die Ernte wurde von Schädlingen befallen.

The harvest was infested with pests.

Core concept

A sudden force or illness falls upon someone and takes hold, leaving that person strongly affected.

Common phrases

  • von Angst befallen werden

    be seized by fear

  • von Krankheit befallen werden

    be afflicted with illness

  • von Zweifeln befallen sein

    be beset by doubts

Similar words

zustoßen: For an accident or misfortune to suddenly strike someone.
überkommen: For a strong feeling to suddenly take hold of someone.
plagen: To cause someone lasting suffering through troubles or pain.
passieren: For an event to happen to someone and affect them.

Definition in German

Ein Verb, das ausdrückt, dass Krankheit, Angst oder ein anderes Übel plötzlich auf eine Person übergreift und sie stark beeinträchtigt.

Word origin

German befallen combines the prefix be- with fallen, whose older sense developed into the idea of something falling upon or attacking a person.

Usage tips

  • Befallen takes the affected person as an accusative object, as in "Plötzlich befiel ihn große Angst," while the affliction is the subject.

Other meanings

  • afflictverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Befallinfestationnoun
  • befallenstrickenadjective

Word lists with this word