angreifen
attack · tackle
Jemandem oder etwas mit Gewalt schaden wollen.
The German word "angreifen" is a verb meaning "to attack" or "to assault".
- It is made up of the word "greifen", which means "to grasp" or "to seize".
- The prefix "an-" typically indicates "towards" or "on/at".
Similar words:
- attackieren (to attack)
- überfallen (to raid/attack suddenly)
- angreifen implies a direct or active offensive action, often physical.
Difference:
- attackieren is often used in military or sports contexts and is somewhat formal.
- überfallen stresses a surprise or sudden attack.
- angreifen focuses on the act of taking offensive action, both physically and metaphorically (e.g., "eine These angreifen" = to challenge an argument).
Make “angreifen” part of your vocabulary.
Build your German vocabulary with flashcards, audio and spaced repetition.
Examples
Die Soldaten greifen den Feind an.verb
The soldiers are attacking the enemy.
Sie greifen sofort an.verb
They attack immediately.
Der Hund könnte unerwartet angreifen.verb
The dog could attack unexpectedly.
Die Mannschaft will das andere Team angreifen.verb
The team wants to attack the other team.
Morgen werden sie das neue Projekt angreifen.verb
Tomorrow they will tackle the new project.
Der Virus hat viele Zellen angegriffen.verb
The virus has attacked many cells.
Keep exploring German
Learn words from the content you love.
Add words from websites, books and videos, then remember them with spaced repetition (SRS).
Scan for iPhone & iPad