gefallen

Gefallen is a German noun with two principal meanings. First, it denotes a favor or act of kindness done for someone, as in the common expression einen Gefallen tun, meaning to do someone a favor. Second, it refers to liking or appeal—the pleasure something has for someone—and is used in phrases such as Gefallen finden an etwas, meaning to take a liking to something, or ich finde Gefallen an deinem Vorschlag, meaning I take a liking to your proposal.

The noun is neuter, das Gefallen. In plural form, die Gefallen, it can refer to multiple favors or instances of appeal, though in everyday speech the singular is far more common. The related verb gefallen means to please someone, as in Die Musik gefällt mir (I like the music), which is a different grammatical construction from Gefallen itself.

Usage notes and common expressions: Gefallen is frequently paired with tun (einen Gefallen tun) or finden (Gefallen finden). The phrase es gefällt mir uses the verb gefallen rather than the noun Gefallen, even though both convey a sense of pleasing or liking. Understanding the distinction between the noun sense (a favor or a liking) and the verb sense (to please) helps in choosing the correct construction in context.

In English contexts, Gefallen is typically translated as "favor" or "pleasure/liking," depending on the sense. The word is common in German-speaking regions and can appear in personal, social, or informal contexts.