Läufen

Läufen is the dative plural form of the German noun Lauf, meaning run, course, race, or phase. As a stand-alone concept, Läufen does not denote a distinct idea; it is the grammatical form that Lauf takes when used in the dative plural.

In standard German, the nominative plural of Lauf is Läufe, while the dative plural is Läufen. This form appears in phrases that require the dative case, such as in den Läufen des Rennens (in the runs of the race) or in den Läufen der Woche (in the stages of the week). The use of Läufen is thus primarily a matter of grammar rather than a separate concept: it marks the word Lauf as a plural noun in the dative case.

Etymology and form: Lauf originates from the Germanic root associated with running or moving, and like many German nouns, its plural forms involve an umlaut and a change in ending. The nominative plural Läufe and the dative plural Läufen share the same base, with the sound shift and case endings distinguishing them in sentences.

Usage notes: Läufen is common in written and formal contexts where precise case marking is required. It is less likely to appear in casual speech, where speakers may opt for alternative phrasing or use the base noun in a different case form. When referring to multiple runs or stages in a generic sense, many writers prefer Läufe (nominative) or rephrase to avoid heavy inflection.

See also: Lauf, Läufe, Läufer.