angesprochen

Angesprochen is the past participle of the German verb ansprechen. It can function as part of the perfect tense with haben (Ich habe das Thema angesprochen) and in passive constructions (Das Thema wurde vom Redner angesprochen). As an adjective it can describe something that has been addressed or that appeals to someone, depending on context.

Two main uses are common. First, to address or mention someone or something: a speaker addresses an audience, a topic is addressed in a discussion. Examples: Der Redner hat das Publikum angesprochen. Das Thema wurde in der Sitzung angesprochen. In passive voice one often adds the agent with von: Das Publikum wurde vom Redner angesprochen. Second, to appeal to or speak to someone emotionally or practically: Das Angebot spricht mich an. Das Design spricht mich an.

As an attributive adjective, angesprochen can describe a noun that has been brought up or referred to: eine angesprochene Frage, eine angesprochene Zielgruppe. The sense “appealing” uses the verb with a pronominal object (mich, dich, ihn, etc.) and tends to appear in everyday language—das Angebot spricht mich an; das Produkt spricht viele Kunden an.

Grammatically, ansprechen is a separable-prefix verb; in finite forms the prefix is separated (er spricht … an), while the past participle is angesprochen. Related terms include Ansprache (speech, address) and Ansprechen (the verb in its base form). Overall, angesprochen signals that something has been addressed or has appealed to someone, depending on the context.