begegnet

Begegnet is the third-person singular present tense form of the German verb begegnen, meaning to encounter or meet someone or something, often by chance. The verb is used with a dative object, for example: Ich bin ihm begegnet (I met/encountered him). The infinitive is begegnen, the past participle is begegnet, and the perfect tense is formed with sein, as in Wir sind ihr begegnet.

Grammatically, begegnen is an intransitive verb that requires the dative case for the person or thing being met. It can describe encounters with people, animals, places, events, or abstract concepts. Common usages include both concrete meetings and more figurative encounters, such as facing difficulties or opportunities: jdm / etw begegnen, den Herausforderungen begegnen, dem Tod begegnen.

In usage, begegnen often conveys an element of chance or unexpectedness, though it can also describe planned or expected meetings in a neutral sense. It is generally contrasted with treffen, which can imply a planned or deliberate meeting, while begegnen emphasizes an encounter as it happens in the course of events. Examples: Auf dem Markt bin ich einer Bekannten begegnet. Wir begegneten den Hindernissen mit Geduld.

Etymologically, begegnen is a common German verb with the prefix be-, forming an inseparable prefix verb. It remains attached in conjugation and is not used as a separable verb in sentences.