German Conversation · Level 117
45 words
German word
begeben
Pronunciation
IPA/bəˈgeːbən/
Meaning
- verbgo
Example
Ich begebe mich jetzt ins Büro.
I'm going to the office now.
More examples
Nach dem Meeting begab er sich nach Hause.
After the meeting, he went home.
Core concept
A threshold crossing marks a transition: someone enters a place or state, and an event comes to pass.
Common phrases
sich begeben ins Büro
go to the office
sich begeben nach Hause
go home
sich begeben in Gefahr
put oneself in danger
Similar words
gehen: To travel on foot toward a place.
fahren: To travel to a place by car, train, or another vehicle.
laufen: To move to a place by walking or running.
kommen: To approach and reach the speaker or another reference point.
Definition in German
Reflexives Verb, meist schriftsprachlich, sich zu einem Ort bewegen oder in einen Zustand gelangen.
Word origin
Middle High German begeben already combined be- and geben, and the reflexive construction later specialized this inherited verb for movement into a place or condition.
Usage tips
- Es begab sich is a literary way to say 'it happened', whereas everyday German usually uses es passierte or es geschah for that sense.