German word

ereignen

Pronunciation

IPA/ɛɐ̯ˈaɪ̯gnən/

Meaning

  • verbhappen

Example

Gestern ereignete sich ein Unfall auf der Autobahn.

Yesterday, an accident happened on the highway.

Illustration for ereignen (happen)

More examples

Solche Pannen ereignen sich oft ohne Vorwarnung.

Such mishaps often happen without warning.

Core concept

A change breaks into the ongoing course of life as an event that can be noticed and recorded.

Common phrases

  • häufig ereignen sich

    happen frequently

  • ohne Vorwarnung ereignet sich

    happen without warning

Similar words

passieren: Something happens, often unexpectedly or by accident.
geschehen: Used for an event that occurs in a somewhat formal or literary register.
stattfinden: A scheduled event or meeting takes place at a fixed time.
vorkommen: Something happens in a particular situation or setting.

Definition in German

Stattfinden oder geschehen; etwas tritt ein.

Word origin

The verb is historically linked to Auge ('eye') through Middle High German eröugen, with an earlier sense of something becoming visible or coming before the eyes.

Usage tips

  • The usual pattern is 'etwas ereignet sich', with the event as the subject and sich as the reflexive pronoun.

Other meanings

  • occurverb

Opposites

  • ausbleibenfail to occurverb
  • unterbleibennot take placeverb

Related words

  • ereignisreicheventfuladjective
  • Ereigniseventnoun

Word lists with this word