German word

jagen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈjaːgn̩/

Meaning

  • verbhunt

Example

Er jagt im Wald Hasen.

He hunts rabbits in the forest.

Illustration for jagen (hunt)

More examples

Am Wochenende jagen einige mit Hunden.

At the weekend, some people hunt with dogs.

Core concept

A pursuer drives an animal or person from place to place, sometimes to catch it and sometimes to force it away.

Common phrases

  • Hasen jagen

    hunt rabbits

  • auf Rehe jagen

    hunt deer

  • Wild jagen

    hunt game

Similar words

verfolgen: To follow a person or animal continuously to prevent escape.
hetzen: To chase someone or an animal at speed and force them to flee.
fangen: To catch and restrain someone or something that is fleeing.
suchen: To search a place or examine things to find what is wanted.

Definition in German

Tiere oder Personen verfolgen, um sie zu fangen oder zu vertreiben.

Word origin

Jagen comes through Middle High German jagen from Old High German jagōn, an inherited Germanic verb for pursuing or driving.

Usage tips

  • The verb is transitive in phrases such as 'jemanden jagen' and can take 'durch' plus an area for the route, as in 'jemanden durch den Wald jagen'.

Other meanings

  • chaseverb
  • driveverb

Opposites

  • beschützenprotectverb
  • bewahrenpreserveverb

Related words

  • Jägerinhuntressnoun
  • Jagdgebiethunting groundnoun
  • gejagthuntedadjective

Word lists with this word