Anfängen

Anfängen is the plural form of Anfang in German, used to denote beginnings or origins of processes, events, or works. It refers to multiple starting points or early phases, such as the Anfänge einer Bewegung, die Anfänge einer Wissenschaft or the Anfänge eines Projekts. The singular Anfang refers to a single starting point, while Anfänge emphasizes plurality.

Etymology and form: The noun derives from the verb anfangen, “to begin.” The lexical root thus reflects the act of taking hold or starting something. Historically, the form appears in Old High German as anfang, with the modern plural Anfänge showing the typical umlaut pattern in German pluralization. The phrase von Anfang an, meaning “from the very beginning,” is one of the best-known usages.

Usage and nuance: Anfängen is common in historical, literary, and scholarly writing when multiple starting points are being discussed or compared. It can refer to the early stages of a movement, tradition, theory, institution, or narrative. The term often contrasts with Ursprung (origin or source) and with Enden (endings) or Weiterentwicklung (further development), underscoring the initial phase rather than the ultimate cause or conclusion.

See also: Anfang, Ursprung, Beginn, Anfange (archaic spelling in some contexts). In everyday German, phrases like von Anfang an are frequent, while Anfänge as a plural form appears most often in more formal or analytical discourse.