betteln

to beg

verb BET-teln Less Common

Also means

to plead

Usage Note

betteln means to beg, either for money (um Geld betteln) or insistently for a favour (um etwas betteln). It governs um + accusative. Distinct from bitten (to ask politely) by its repeated, pleading insistence. The noun Bettler names a beggar.

Examples

"Das Kind bettelte um ein Eis."

Natural Translation

The child begged for an ice cream.

Literal Translation

The child begged for an ice-cream.

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