begegnen

Begegnen is a German verb meaning to meet or to encounter, often by chance. It can refer to meeting a person, but also to coming across something such as a situation, a fate, or a phenomenon. The term carries a nuance of spontaneity or serendipity, in contrast to treffen, which usually implies a planned or intentional meeting. In literary and everyday usage, begegnen can describe both social encounters and encounters with non-human things.

Grammar and usage notes: Begegnungen with a person require the dative case of the other participant, for example: Ich begegne dir, Wir begegnen dem kleinen Problem im Alltag. The verb is intransitive and does not take a direct object in the accusative. The perfect tense is formed with sein: Ich bin ihm begegnet. Variants such as Präteritum are: Ich begegnete ihm, Wir begegneten uns zufällig.

Common uses and phrases: Begegenen is frequently used with neutral or positive connotations, such as meetings with old friends, strangers, or new ideas. It can be employed in figurative sense, for example when one encounters a challenge or a change in life. The related noun Begegnung (encounter) is commonly used in both everyday language and literature to denote the event of meeting.

Relation to related terms: Begegnen is distinct from treffen in its emphasis on spontaneity and chance rather than intention. It is broader than simply “to meet,” encompassing encounters with people, objects, circumstances, or ideas. As a stylistic choice, begegnen often appears in narrative prose to convey a moment of coming upon something unexpected.