German word

besuchen

Pronunciation

IPA/bəˈzuːxn̩/

Meaning

  • verbvisit

Example

Ich besuche meine Großeltern am Sonntag.

I'm visiting my grandparents on Sunday.

Illustration for besuchen (visit)

More examples

Jeden Morgen besuchen viele Kinder die Schule.

Every morning, many children attend school.

Core concept

Someone crosses the distance to meet a person or be present at a place, with the same action covering visits and regular attendance.

Common phrases

  • die Schule besuchen

    attend school

  • den Arzt besuchen

    visit the doctor

  • eine Veranstaltung besuchen

    attend an event

Similar words

treffen: Meet someone face to face at an agreed time.
vorbeikommen: Stop by briefly to see someone.
besichtigen: Look around and examine a building or place.
teilnehmen: Join and take part in an event or group activity.

Definition in German

jemanden oder einen Ort aufsuchen, entweder für einen kurzen Besuch oder für regelmäßiges Kommen

Word origin

Besuchen is a Germanic formation from be- plus suchen, whose earlier sense of seeking or going toward someone developed into the modern sense of visiting.

Usage tips

  • With institutions, besuchen can mean attend, as in eine Schule besuchen, while English usually uses attend rather than visit.

Other meanings

  • attendverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Besuchvisitnoun
  • besuchenswertworth visitingadjective

Word lists with this word