der  Anfall

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/ˈanfal/

💡 What exactly is 'der Anfall'?

The noun der Anfall (plural: die Anfälle) describes a sudden, often severe occurrence of something, usually with a negative connotation. The main meanings are:

• Medical: A sudden, uncontrollable physical event, e.g., an epileptischer Anfall (epileptic seizure), a Herzanfall (heart attack - although Herzinfarkt is more common), or an Asthmaanfall (asthma attack).
• Emotional/Psychological: A sudden outburst of strong feelings, like a Wutanfall (tantrum, fit of rage), a Lachanfall (fit of laughter), or a Weinanfall (crying spell).
• General: A sudden onset or attack of something, e.g., a Hustenanfall (coughing fit) or a Schwächeanfall (bout of weakness).

⚠️ Context is crucial to understand the precise meaning.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'der Anfall' in Detail

The noun Anfall is masculine. Here is its declension:

📝 Example Sentences

• Der plötzliche Anfall erschreckte alle Anwesenden.
  (The sudden attack/seizure frightened everyone present.)
• Nach der Diagnose litt er häufiger unter epileptischen Anfällen.
  (After the diagnosis, he suffered more frequently from epileptic seizures.)
• Das Kind bekam einen heftigen Wutanfall, als es kein Eis bekam.
  (The child threw a violent tantrum when it didn't get ice cream.)
• Wir mussten wegen eines unerwarteten Hustenanfalls lachen.
  (We had to laugh because of an unexpected coughing fit.)
• Während des Anfalls verlor er kurz das Bewusstsein.
  (During the seizure/attack, he briefly lost consciousness.)

🗣️ How to Use 'Anfall'?

The use of der Anfall depends heavily on the context:

• In the medical field: Refers to acute health events. Often combined with the type of attack: epileptischer Anfall, Asthmaanfall, Herzanfall (less common than Herzinfarkt for heart attack).
• In the emotional sphere: Describes emotional outbursts: Wutanfall (tantrum), Lachanfall (fit of laughter), Heulanfall/Weinanfall (crying spell), Tobsuchtsanfall (fit of frenzy).
• Generally: For sudden physical reactions or states: Hustenanfall (coughing fit), Niesanfall (sneezing fit), Schwächeanfall (bout of weakness), Schwindelanfall (dizzy spell).

Typical Collocations:

• einen Anfall bekommen/kriegen (to have/get an attack/fit)
• einen Anfall haben (to have an attack/fit)
• einen Anfall erleiden (to suffer an attack/fit)
• ein leichter/schwerer/plötzlicher/heftiger Anfall (a mild/severe/sudden/violent attack/fit)

There is less risk of confusion with other words, but the specific type of Anfall often needs to be specified to avoid misunderstandings.

🧠 Mnemonics for 'der Anfall'

For the article 'der': Think of an Anfall (attack/seizure) as something that suddenly attacks you, like a male attacker (der Angreifer). Der Anfall attacks.

For the meaning: An Anfall is when something suddenly 'falls upon' (anfallen) you – be it an illness, an emotion, or a coughing urge. It 'falls on' you.

↔️ Synonyms & Antonyms

🚨 Be aware that synonyms often only fit in specific contexts!

😂 A Little Joke

Warum hat der Computer einen Anfall bekommen?

... Weil er zu viele Fenster offen hatte und einen Zug bekommen hat! 😉

(Why did the computer have a fit/seizure? ... Because it had too many windows open and caught a draft!) (Pun: 'Zug bekommen' means 'to catch a draft', but 'Zug' can also mean 'train' or 'process'; 'Fenster' means 'window' both physically and in software)

📜 Poem about 'der Anfall'

Plötzlich kommt er, ungefragt,
Der Anfall, der das Gleichgewicht zersagt.
Mal Wut, mal Lachen, mal ein Krampf so schwer,
Ein jäher Sturm, von innen her.
Man hofft auf Ruhe, Frieden schnell,
Nach diesem jähen Zwischenspiel.

(Suddenly it comes, unasked,
The attack/fit, that shatters balance.
Sometimes anger, sometimes laughter, sometimes a severe cramp,
A sudden storm, from within.
One hopes for calm, peace quickly,
After this abrupt interlude.)

❓ Riddle Time

Ich komme plötzlich, ungebeten,
Kann Körper oder Geist zertreten.
Mal bring ich Zorn, mal Schmerz und Not,
Manchmal nur Lachen, hell und rot.
Medizinisch oder emotional,
Mein Kommen ist oft eine Qual.

Was bin ich?

(I come suddenly, uninvited,
Can crush body or mind.
Sometimes I bring anger, sometimes pain and distress,
Sometimes just laughter, bright and red.
Medical or emotional,
My arrival is often an agony.

What am I?)

Solution: Der Anfall (the attack/fit/seizure)

🧩 Other Information

Word Composition:

The word Anfall derives from the verb anfallen. Anfallen originally means 'to fall upon someone/something', 'to attack', or 'to occur/arise suddenly'. These meanings are reflected in the noun – something that suddenly comes over you or begins.

Interesting Note: Although 'Herzanfall' is understandable for 'heart attack', in German, the term 'Herzinfarkt' (myocardial infarction) is almost exclusively used for this specific medical emergency.