German word

verfolgen

Pronunciation

IPA/fɛɐ̯ˈfɔlgən/

Meaning

  • verbpursue

Example

Die Polizei verfolgt den Verdächtigen.

The police are pursuing the suspect.

Illustration for verfolgen (pursue)

More examples

Ich verfolge täglich die Nachrichten.

I follow the news every day.

Core concept

A determined pursuer stays on a target's trail, whether tracking a person or pressing a case against them.

Common phrases

  • die Nachrichten verfolgen

    follow the news

  • eine Diskussion verfolgen

    follow a discussion

  • einen Blog verfolgen

    follow a blog

Similar words

folgen: Staying behind someone while traveling in the same direction.
nachlaufen: Running after a person or animal and refusing to give up the chase.
beobachten: Observing movements from a distance to support records or decisions.
jagen: Hunting an animal or target with the aim of capturing it.

Definition in German

einer Person oder Sache hartnäckig nachgehen; auch: gegen jemanden strafrechtlich vorgehen

Word origin

Verfolgen combines the prefix ver- with folgen, 'to follow', and developed the sense of following something persistently, including pursuing it through legal action.

Usage tips

  • Verfolgen takes an accusative object, as in den Verdächtigen; the dative form dem Verdächtigen is not used for the person being pursued.

Other meanings

  • followverb
  • chaseverb
  • prosecuteverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word