German word

langen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈlaŋən/

Meaning

  • verbreach for

Example

Das Kind langt nach dem Ball.

The child is reaching for the ball.

Illustration for langen (reach for)

More examples

Er langt nach der Fernbedienung.

He reaches for the remote control.

Core concept

An arm stretches toward a target, and a quantity stretches far enough to meet a need.

Common phrases

  • langt nach dem Ball

    reach for the ball

  • langt nach der Fernbedienung

    reach for the remote control

  • langt nach der Tasse

    reach for the cup

Similar words

greifen: Extend a hand or arm to grasp something.
strecken: Extend an arm or body part to make something reachable.
wollen: Have the will or desire to obtain something.
sich sehnen: Feel a deep longing for something.

Definition in German

Etwas mit ausgestreckter Hand erreichen wollen; auch im bildlichen Sinn nach etwas stark streben.

Word origin

Langen developed from the Germanic adjective lang, 'long', with a sense of extending far enough to reach and later to suffice or be strongly sought.

Usage tips

  • In the construction langen nach, the object is in the dative, as in langen nach dem Ball.

Other meanings

  • be enoughverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word