German Conversation · Level 78
59 words
German word
losgehen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈloːsˌgeːən/
Meaning
- verbstart
Example
Das Konzert geht gleich los.
The concert is about to start.
More examples
Die Diskussion geht nicht los.
The discussion does not start.
Core concept
A still situation suddenly gets underway, whether a person moves off or an event begins.
Common phrases
geht nicht los
does not start
geht gegen Mitternacht los
starts around midnight
Similar words
anfangen: Describes the beginning of an action or event.
beginnen: Describes the official beginning of something.
loslegen: Describes starting a task or activity with energy.
starten: Describes a machine or event starting up.
Definition in German
Anfangen zu passieren oder sich in Bewegung setzen; trennbares Verb, meist intransitiv.
Word origin
Losgehen combines the particle "los", meaning away or free, with "gehen", meaning to go, and forms a separable verb.
Usage tips
- In a main clause, the particle separates, as in "Das Konzert geht gleich los", while "losgehen" stays together after a modal verb.