treffen
meet · meet themselves
Es bedeutet, dass zwei oder mehr Personen an einem Ort zusammenkommen oder dass man etwas mit einem Schlag, Wurf oder Schuss genau erreicht.
Definition & meaning
The verb treffen is a versatile word in German with several distinct meanings:
- To meet: To come together with someone, usually by pre-arrangement or by chance.
- To hit/strike: To physically contact a target or an object, such as hitting a ball or a mark.
- To affect: To have an impact on someone or something, often in a negative way (e.g., being struck by a tragedy or an economic crisis).
- To make a decision: Used in the phrase "eine Entscheidung treffen" (to make a decision).
Grammar & Word origin
Grammar:
- Type: Strong verb (irregular).
- Conjugation: treffen (infinitive) – traf (past tense/Präteritum) – getroffen (past participle/Perfekt).
- Auxiliary verb: haben.
- Reflexive usage: "sich treffen" means to meet each other.
Origin: The word originates from Middle High German "treffen," which meant to strike, reach, or encounter. It is related to the Middle Low German "drepen," which also signifies hitting or meeting.
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- Begegnen : To encounter or meet someone, often implies a chance meeting.
- Erreichen : To reach a target or a goal.
- Stoßen : To hit or bump against something.
- Zusammentreffen : To congregate or meet up.
Antonyms:
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Examples
Wir treffen uns um drei Uhr am Nachmittag.verb
We are meeting at three in the afternoon.
Sie treffen sich morgen im Café.verb
They will meet at the café tomorrow.
Sie trifft ihre Freunde im Café.verb
She meets her friends at the café.
Er trifft seine Freunde im Park.verb
He meets his friends in the park.
Wir treffen uns um zwölf am Bahnhof.verb
We meet at twelve at the train station.
Er trifft morgen seine Freunde.verb
He is meeting his friends tomorrow.
Ich treffe heute neue Freunde im Sprachkurs.verb
I am meeting new friends in the language course today.
Hast du Maria gestern im Park getroffen?verb
Did you meet Maria in the park yesterday?
Ich treffe mich jeden Sonntag mit meinen Freunden im Café.verb
I meet with my friends every Sunday at the café.
Warum treffen sich die Kinder nach dem Unterricht im Park?verb
Why do the children meet (themselves) in the park after class?
Wir treffen uns morgen früh vor dem Eingang.verb
We meet tomorrow morning in front of the entrance.
Wo treffen sich die Nachbarn am Wochenende?verb
Where do the neighbors meet on the weekend?
Wir wollen uns am Nachmittag im Café treffen.verb
We want to meet each other at the café in the afternoon.
Kannst du mich später vor dem Kino treffen?verb
Can you meet me in front of the cinema later?
Am Freitag trafen sich viele Nachbarn im Hof.verb
On Friday many neighbors met in the courtyard.
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