German word

umgehen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈʊmgeːən/

Meaning

  • verbdeal with

Example

Ich gehe gut mit Stress um.

I deal well with stress.

Illustration for umgehen (deal with)

More examples

Sie kann rücksichtsvoll mit Kollegen umgehen.

She can treat colleagues considerately.

Core concept

A challenge is circled until it is either brought under control or left safely to one side.

Common phrases

  • rücksichtsvoll mit Kollegen umgehen

    treat colleagues considerately

  • freundlich mit Kunden umgehen

    treat customers kindly

  • mit Kindern umgehen

    interact with children

Similar words

zurechtkommen: Manage despite difficulties or adjust successfully to a new situation.
bewältigen: Work through a serious problem or demanding task until it is completed.
ausweichen: Move the body or change direction to avoid an approaching person or object.

Definition in German

Auf eine Situation oder Person so reagieren, dass man sie effektiv behandelt oder neutralisiert.

Word origin

The verb combines um, meaning 'around', with gehen, meaning 'go'; movement around something developed into coping with it or bypassing it.

Usage tips

  • In the coping sense, umgehen is separable and takes mit plus the dative, as in Ich gehe mit Stress um; the bypassing sense is inseparable and takes an accusative object.

Other meanings

  • handleverb
  • avoidverb

Opposites

Related words

  • der Umganginteractionnoun
  • umgänglichapproachableadjective

Word lists with this word