Anhängern

Anhängern is the dative plural form of the German noun Anhänger. Anhänger itself has two common meanings in German: a person who follows or supports a person, cause, or organization (a follower or supporter), and a vehicle that is towed behind another vehicle (a trailer or caravan). The word Anhänger is used for both senses, with the plural form die Anhänger.

In practice, Anhänger refers to supporters in political, social, or fan contexts—groups, party followers, or enthusiasts described as Anhänger. It also designates towable trailers used in transportation and logistics, such as Wohnanhänger (caravans) or Nutzanhänger (utility trailers). The dative plural form, Anhängern, appears in sentences with a preposition or determiner, for example mit Anhängern, bei den Anhängern, or den Anhängern, depending on the grammatical construction.

Etymologically, Anhänger derives from the sense of attachment or clinging, reflecting both a person who attaches themselves to someone or something and a trailer that attaches behind a vehicle. The term has been in use in German for centuries and remains common in contemporary usage across media, politics, sports, and transportation contexts.

Note that Anhängern is not a standalone lexical entry in common usage; it is the inflected form of Anhänger used in the dative plural or in contexts requiring a determinerless plural noun. When referring to the group of followers or to multiple trailers, the base noun Anhänger is typically used, with Anhängern appearing in grammatically appropriate dative phrases.