erreicht

Erreicht is a form related to the German verb erreichen, meaning to reach or to achieve. The word is primarily encountered as the past participle of erreichen, used with haben to form perfect tenses (for example, ich habe erreicht, du hast erreicht, er hat erreicht). The present tense of erreichen is written as two words: er erreicht (he reaches). The simple past (preterite) form is also two words: er erreichte (he reached).

The verb erreichen is transitive and requires a direct object or a destination, goal, or threshold. It can refer to arriving at a location (to reach a place) as well as to attaining a result or objective (to reach a goal). In everyday language, the distinction is often clear from context: physical movement versus achievement.

Common meanings include:

- to reach a destination or point in space, time, or distance (Er hat den Hafen erreicht.)

- to achieve, accomplish, or attain a target or milestone (Sie hat ihr Ziel erreicht.)

Related forms and derivatives include the adjective erreichbar (reachable) and the noun Erreichbarkeit (reachability or accessibility). The prefix er- in erreichen often conveys completion, attainment, or successful accomplishment.

Examples:

- Present: Er erreicht den Bahnhof um acht.

- Past participle: Wir haben das Ziel erreicht.

- Past tense: Er erreichte den Briefkasten, aber den Zug verpasste er.

Erreicht functions as a standard component of German verb morphology and is used across written and spoken German to express successful arrival or attainment.