Attackieren

Attackieren is a German verb meaning to attack. It is a borrowed term from English to attack, introduced via the noun Attacke (attack). The word is transitive, requiring a direct object, and belongs to the -ieren class of German verbs, which typically form their past tenses and past participles regularly.

Usage ranges from physical aggression to figurative criticism. In sports, commentators may say that a team attacks the opponent’s defense. In politics and journalism, it is common to attackieren a policy or argument. In information technology and security, systems may be attackiert by hackers. The register is neutral and somewhat formal; some speakers prefer angreifen for straightforward or violent contexts.

Conjugation. Present: ich attackiere, du attackierst, er attackiert, wir attackieren, ihr attackiert, sie attackieren. Präteritum: ich attackierte, du attackiertest, er attackierte, wir attackierten, ihr attackiertet, sie attackierten. Participle and perfect: attackiert; ich habe attackiert. Passive voice is formed with werden: Das System wird attackiert. Imperative: attackiere (du), attackiert (ihr).

Etymology and notes: The verb is a loan from English, via the noun Attacke; attested in German from around the mid-20th century. It complements native terms like angreifen and Attacke; in neutral or technical contexts it is common, while in everyday speech some speakers prefer angreifen for more direct attacking actions. See also Angreifen, Attacke.