German Conversation · Level 80
60 words
German word
befragen
Pronunciation
IPA/bəˈfʁaːgən/
Meaning
- verbquestion
Example
Die Journalistin befragt den Politiker.
The journalist questions the politician.
More examples
Die Lehrerin befragt die Schüler nach dem Text.
The teacher questions the students about the text.
Core concept
An interviewer collects responses from one person or many people through a planned set of questions.
Common phrases
befragen jemanden nach etwas
question someone about something
befragen Zeugen
question witnesses
Similar words
fragen: To ask someone a brief question and seek a direct answer.
interviewen: To question someone in person or by phone to obtain information for a record or quote.
umfragen: To ask many people the same question to gather opinions or identify trends.
ausfragen: To ask detailed questions repeatedly to uncover hidden information or circumstances.
Definition in German
jemanden formell oder beruflich zu einem Thema befragen und Antworten systematisch einholen.
Word origin
Befragen joins be- with the Germanic verb fragen, making a transitive verb that places the questioned person directly after it.
Usage tips
- In the passive, the questioned person becomes the subject: Der Politiker wird befragt means that the politician is being questioned.
Other meanings
- interviewverb
- surveyverb
- interrogateverb
Opposites
- beantwortenanswerverb