German word

gefallen

Pronunciation

IPA/gəˈfalən/

Meaning

  • verbplease ___

Example

Dieses Bild gefällt mir.

I like this picture.

Illustration for gefallen (please ___)

More examples

Dein Vorschlag gefällt mir.

Your suggestion pleases me.

Core concept

A picture lands in someone's taste and gives quiet pleasure.

Common phrases

  • gefällt mir

    please me

  • gefällt dir

    please you

  • Wie gefällt Ihnen

    How do you like it?

Similar words

mögen: To like something in a general, ordinary way.
lieben: To feel strong, deep affection or love for something.
interessieren: To attract someone's interest and make them curious.
stehen: To suit someone in appearance, especially of clothing or colors.

Definition in German

Etwas gefällt jemandem, wenn es dessen Geschmack trifft oder Freude bereitet.

Word origin

Gefallen comes from Germanic fallen, 'to fall'; the older form gifallan developed a figurative sense of something falling well to a person's taste.

Usage tips

  • The pleasing or suitable thing is the subject, while the person is in the dative: Dieses Bild gefällt mir, not Ich gefalle das Bild.

Other meanings

  • be likedverb
  • suit ___verb

Opposites

  • missfallendispleaseverb

Related words

  • Gefallenlikingnoun
  • gefälligpleasantadjective
  • Gefälligkeitkindnessnoun

Word lists with this word