German word

begegnen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈgeːgnən/

Meaning

  • verbrun into

Example

Gestern bin ich einem Problem begegnet.

Yesterday I ran into a problem.

Illustration for begegnen (run into)

More examples

Ich bin gestern einem alten Freund zufällig begegnet.

Yesterday I happened to run into an old friend.

Core concept

Coming face to face with a person or obstacle on a path.

Common phrases

  • einem alten Freund begegnen

    run into an old friend

  • jemandem aus der Schule begegnen

    run into someone from school

  • jemandem im Supermarkt begegnen

    run into someone at the supermarket

Similar words

treffen: To meet someone by arrangement or at a planned time.
kennenlernen: To meet someone for the first time and get acquainted.
antreffen: To find a person or thing present at a particular place.

Definition in German

Jemandem oder etwas unerwartet begegnen; meist mit Dativ und im Perfekt mit sein gebraucht.

Word origin

Begegnen derives from Middle High German begeg(e)nen, formed with be- from gegen 'against', and developed from meeting face to face to encountering people or things.

Usage tips

  • Begegnen normally takes a dative object, as in einem Problem, and forms the perfect with sein: ist ... begegnet.

Other meanings

  • meetverb
  • faceverb

Related words

Word lists with this word