die  Begegnung

B2

Estimated CEFR level.

/bəˈɡeːnʊŋ/

🤝 What does 'die Begegnung' mean?

Die Begegnung (noun, feminine) describes the act of meeting or encountering someone or something. It can refer to a chance meeting (zufällige Begegnung) or a planned one, often emphasizing the moment of coming together.

• Meeting people: This is the most common meaning. For example: Die erste Begegnung mit meinen Schwiegereltern war aufregend. (The first encounter with my parents-in-law was exciting.)
• Encountering things/concepts: You can also 'begegnen' abstract things or situations. For example: Seine erste Begegnung mit der Armut prägte ihn tief. (His first encounter with poverty deeply shaped him.)
• Confrontation/Match: Sometimes it's used in the sense of a (sports) match or a confrontation. For example: Die Begegnung der beiden Fußballmannschaften endete unentschieden. (The match between the two football teams ended in a draw.)

🚨 Attention: Although similar to 'das Treffen' (the meeting), 'die Begegnung' often highlights the event of meeting itself, sometimes unexpectedly, while 'das Treffen' usually implies a planned gathering.

Article rules for der, die, and das

🧐 Grammar of 'die Begegnung'

The word 'Begegnung' is a feminine noun. The article is die. Like many feminine nouns ending in '-ung', its declension is regular.

Declension Singular

Declension Plural

📝 Example Sentences

• Die Begegnung auf der Straße war rein zufällig. (The encounter on the street was purely coincidental.)
• Ich erinnere mich gut an den Tag unserer ersten Begegnung. (I remember the day of our first encounter well.)
• Bei dieser Begegnung tauschten wir Nummern aus. (At this encounter, we exchanged numbers.)
• Er suchte die Begegnung mit seinem Idol. (He sought an encounter with his idol.)
• Solche Begegnungen bleiben lange im Gedächtnis. (Such encounters remain long in memory.)
• Die Geschichten von diesen Begegnungen sind faszinierend. (The stories of these encounters are fascinating.)

💡 How to use 'die Begegnung'?

'Die Begegnung' is often used to describe special or memorable meetings. The context can vary:

• Chance encounters: Eine unerwartete Begegnung im Supermarkt. (An unexpected encounter in the supermarket.)
• First encounters: Die erste Begegnung mit einer neuen Kultur. (The first encounter with a new culture.)
• Formal or planned encounters: Die Begegnung der Staatschefs fand in Genf statt. (The meeting of the heads of state took place in Geneva.) - Here similar to 'Treffen'.
• Conflictual encounters: Eine feindliche Begegnung zwischen den Gruppen. (A hostile encounter between the groups.)
• Sporting encounters: Die nächste Begegnung findet am Samstag statt. (The next match takes place on Saturday.) - Synonym for Spiel, Match.
• Abstract encounters: Die Begegnung mit Kunst kann inspirierend sein. (The encounter with art can be inspiring.)

Comparison with 'das Treffen':

🧠 Mnemonics for 'Begegnung'

Article Mnemonic: Most nouns ending in -ung are feminine ('die'). Think: The invitation ('die Einladung') to the encounter ('die Begegnung'). Both are 'die'.

Meaning Mnemonic: Imagine you 'go against' (entgegen gehen) someone – that's the moment of Begegnung (encounter). The 'gegen' (against/towards) part hints at meeting someone coming the other way.

🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms

⚠️ Similar but potentially misleading words:

• Die Gegend: Means 'area' or 'region'.
• Die Begnadigung: Means 'pardon' (legal term).

😂 A Little Joke

German: Fragt der Pessimist den Optimisten bei ihrer ersten Begegnung: "Ist das Glas halbleer oder halbvoll?" Sagt der Realist: "Es ist ein Glas mit Wasser drin." Sagt der Opportunist: "Gute Frage! Was soll es denn sein?"

English: At their first encounter, the pessimist asks the optimist: "Is the glass half empty or half full?" The realist says: "It's a glass with water in it." The opportunist says: "Good question! What would you like it to be?"

📜 Poem about Encounters

German: Ein Blick, ein Wort, ganz unbedacht,
Eine Begegnung in der Nacht.
Zwei Wege kreuzen sich im Raum,
Ein kurzer, flüchtiger Lebenstraum.

Manchmal ist's Zufall, manchmal Plan,
Die Begegnung zieht uns in Bann.
Ein neuer Anfang, altbekannt,
Ein Händedruck, von Hand zu Hand.

English Translation: A glance, a word, quite unthinking,
An encounter in the night.
Two paths cross in space,
A short, fleeting dream of life.

Sometimes it's chance, sometimes plan,
The encounter holds us spellbound.
A new beginning, familiar,
A handshake, from hand to hand.

❓ Riddle

German: Ich bin ein Moment, mal kurz, mal lang,
Wenn Wege sich kreuzen, fängt's oft an.
Mal freudig erwartet, mal ganz unverhofft,
Ich bringe Menschen zusammen, sehr oft.

Was bin ich?

English: I am a moment, sometimes short, sometimes long,
When paths cross, it often begins.
Sometimes joyfully expected, sometimes quite unforeseen,
I bring people together, very often.

What am I?
(The solution: die Begegnung / an encounter)

✨ Other Information about 'Begegnung'

Word Composition:

The word 'Begegnung' derives from the verb 'begegnen' (to meet, to encounter). This verb is composed of the prefix 'be-' (which often indicates an action performed on an object) and the older verb 'gegnen' (to go towards, to meet). The suffix '-ung' turns the verb into a noun and is typically feminine.

Cultural Significance:

Encounters (Begegnungen) play a central role in literature, film, and daily life. They can represent turning points (e.g., meeting a future partner) or trigger conflicts. The concept is fundamental to storytelling and social interaction.