treffen

Treffen is a German word with two main uses: as a noun meaning a meeting or encounter, and as a verb meaning to meet or to hit. The noun das Treffen refers to any gathering, whether planned (a business meeting, a conference) or spontaneous (an informal encounter). It can denote a single event or, in the plural, several meetings, die Treffen. Common phrases include ein Treffen planen, ein Treffen abhalten, or das Treffen findet nächsten Monat statt.

As a verb, treffen is irregular in the present tense: ich treffe, du triffst, er trifft; it forms the simple past as traf and the past participle as getroffen. It is commonly used with sich to express meeting someone: Wir treffen uns heute Abend. It can also mean to meet someone by chance, with auf or durch in some constructions: Ich traf ihn zufällig auf der Straße. In a physical sense, treffen can mean to hit or strike a target: Der Ball trifft das Tor. It can also extend metaphorically to indicate something affecting someone: Das trifft mich hart. The related verb zutreffen means “to apply” or “to be true,” as in Der Aussage trifft zu.

Treffen is a versatile term in German, used in everyday conversation, journalism, and formal contexts. Its meaning shifts between social coordination, encounter, physical impact, and applicability, depending on the noun or verb form and the surrounding prepositions.