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begegnen

meet

verb be-GAYG-nen Less Common

Also means

encounter

Usage Note

begegnen is one of the verbs that take a dative object, not accusative: Ich begegne dem Mann ('I meet the man'). It forms its perfect with sein (Ich bin ihm begegnet) because it implies a chance encounter rather than an arranged treffen.

Examples

"Ich bin ihr gestern begegnet."

Natural Translation

I ran into her yesterday.

Literal Translation

I am her yesterday met.

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