German word

begraben

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈgʁaːbən/

Meaning

  • verbbury

Example

Wir begraben ihn morgen.

We will bury him tomorrow.

Illustration for begraben (bury)

More examples

Nach langer Versöhnung konnten sie die Vergangenheit begraben.

After a long reconciliation, they were able to bury the past.

Core concept

A person or thing is put under soil and disappears from view, either for burial or concealment.

Common phrases

  • einen Toten begraben

    bury a dead person

  • Gefühle begraben

    bury feelings

  • die Vergangenheit begraben

    bury the past

Similar words

beerdigen: Burying a deceased person in a grave as part of funeral rites.
vergraben: Covering an object with earth to conceal it.
bestatten: Formally interring a deceased person in a burial place.
beisetzen: Placing a coffin or cremated remains in a grave.

Definition in German

Jemanden oder etwas in die Erde legen, sodass er oder es bestattet oder verborgen wird.

Word origin

Begraben is formed from be- and the German verb graben, meaning 'dig', and developed the sense of putting someone or something under earth.

Usage tips

  • Begraben takes an accusative object and is non-separable, so 'Wir begraben ihn morgen' keeps be- attached.

Opposites

  • ausgrabendig upverb
  • exhumierenexhumeverb

Related words

  • Begräbnisfuneralnoun
  • Begrabenerburied personnoun

Word lists with this word