German word

fegen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈfeːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbsweep

Example

Sie fegt jeden Morgen die Küche.

She sweeps the kitchen every morning.

Illustration for fegen (sweep)

More examples

Er fegt den Gehweg vor dem Haus.

He sweeps the sidewalk in front of the house.

Core concept

Repeated strokes with a broom clear dirt from a surface by moving it in one direction.

Common phrases

  • fegt den Boden

    sweep the floor

  • fegt die Krümel zusammen

    sweep the crumbs together

Similar words

kehren: Gather dirt from floors or entryways with a broom and sweep it aside.
wischen: Remove dirt from floors or tables by rubbing them with a damp cloth.
staubsaugen: Remove dust and dirt from floors or fabric surfaces with a vacuum cleaner.
ausfegen: Sweep indoor dirt outward and out of a room with a broom.

Definition in German

Mit Besen oder Handfeger Schmutz von einer Fläche wegschieben und entfernen.

Word origin

Fegen descends through Middle High German vegen from Old High German fēgan and is an inherited Germanic word rather than a later borrowing.

Usage tips

  • Fegen commonly takes the surface as a direct object, as in den Boden fegen, while wegfegen specifically presents the dirt as being swept away.

Other meanings

  • sweep awayverb

Opposites

Related words

  • ausfegensweep outverb
  • abfegensweep offverb

Word lists with this word