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verb

abfallen

fall off

Von etwas heruntergehen oder sich lösen und auf den Boden fallen.

Definition & meaning

The German verb abfallen has several distinct meanings depending on the context:

  1. To fall off or drop: This is the most literal meaning, used when something detaches itself from a larger object and falls to the ground. For example, leaves falling from a tree or a button falling off a coat.
  2. To slope or decline (Topography): It describes terrain that goes downward. If a mountain path or a piece of land "fällt ab," it means it slopes down steeply or gradually.
  3. To decrease or deteriorate: This refers to a drop in quality, intensity, or performance. For instance, if an athlete's performance drops toward the end of a race, or if the temperature falls significantly.
  4. To be a byproduct or waste: In technical or industrial contexts, it describes material that is left over during a production process (e.g., wood chips or scrap metal).
  5. To desert or defect: It can mean turning away from a faith, a political party, or a leader. This implies a loss of loyalty or the act of apostasy.

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar:

  • Type: Irregular (strong) verb.
  • Principal parts: fällt ab, fiel ab, ist abgefallen.
  • Structure: It is a separable verb, where the prefix ab moves to the end of the sentence in simple present and simple past tenses. It uses the auxiliary verb sein for perfect tenses because it usually indicates a change of state or position.

Word Origin: The word is composed of the prefix ab, meaning "off" or "away," and the base verb fallen, meaning "to fall." It has been part of the German language since Middle High German (abe vallen).

Synonyms & antonyms

Synonyms:

  • In the sense of falling off: herunterfallen, sich lösen.
  • In the sense of sloping: abhangen, neigen.
  • In the sense of decreasing: nachlassen, sinken, abnehmen.
  • In the sense of byproduct: entstehen, übrig bleiben.
  • In the sense of defecting: desertieren, sich abkehren.

Antonyms:

  • In the sense of falling off: festbleiben, anwachsen.
  • In the sense of sloping: ansteigen, bergauf gehen.
  • In the sense of decreasing: zunehmen, steigen, sich verbessern.
  • In the sense of defecting: treu bleiben, beitreten.

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Examples

Die Blätter fallen im Herbst ab.verb

The leaves fall off in autumn.

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