betreffen

Betreffen is a German verb meaning to concern, affect, or be relevant to someone or something. It is used to indicate that a matter has a bearing on a person or group. The verb governs a direct object in the accusative, as in: Dieses Thema betrifft die Politik (This topic concerns politics) or Es betrifft mich (That concerns me).

Origin and form: Betreffen is formed with the prefix be- attached to treffen (to hit or meet). The sense shifted from a literal urging of contact to a figurative sense of relevance or impact. The past participle is betroffen, which is also used as an adjective meaning affected or shocked (Ich bin betroffen). The simple past is betraf and the perfect is hat betroffen.

Usage and nuance: Betreffen is common in everyday and formal language, especially to describe what is relevant to a person, group, or domain—law, policy, or news contexts often use it. It can appear in impersonal constructions like Es betrifft alle (It concerns everyone) or in subject–verb–object order, Die Frage betrifft die Politik. To emphasize who is affected, the phrase von + dative can be used: Ich bin von dem Vorfall betroffen.

Related terms and alternatives: Synonyms include angehen and berühren in certain senses, though each verb carries its own nuance. In legal or administrative writing, betroffenen scope is frequently used to define who or what falls under a regulation or decision.

See also: The related adjective betroffen, which describes someone who has been affected or is emotionally touched by something. The broader concept of Relevanz and Bezugspunkte also intersects with the use of betreffen in discourse.