gegen — meaning in English: against

Learn this word with quizzes, examples and more on Maspeak.

Guess the translation for against

stehen

gegen

große

beide

gab

Skip this question

🎓

Learn German for free

Quizzes, examples, audio & daily challenges. No password needed — just your email.

Start learning →

Already have an account? Log in

neutral very common

Usage

Native speakers use 'gegen' when discussing opposition or conflict, such as in political debates or sports commentary. For example, one might say, 'Wir sind gegen den Plan,' meaning 'We are against the plan,' during a town hall meeting.

Synonyms & nuances

'Gegen' is often compared to 'widersprechen', which means 'to contradict'. While 'gegen' indicates opposition or resistance, 'widersprechen' emphasizes a direct challenge or dispute of someone's statement, making 'gegen' more versatile for various contexts.

Culture

'Gegen' has Germanic roots and is akin to the Old High German 'gegean', which also meant 'against'. This word is deeply embedded in German culture, often used in legal contexts as well as in everyday conversation, reflecting a penchant for directness in expressing opposition.

FAQ

Q.What does 'gegen' mean in English?

'Gegen' translates to 'against' in English, used to express opposition or resistance to an idea, action, or entity.

Q.How is 'gegen' used in a sentence?

'Gegen' can be used in various contexts, such as 'Ich bin gegen die Idee,' which means 'I am against the idea.' It can also appear in phrases like 'Gegen den Wind', meaning 'against the wind'.

Q.Are there any common mistakes with 'gegen'?

A frequent mistake is using 'gegen' with the wrong case. 'Gegen' always requires the accusative case; for example, 'Ich kämpfe gegen den Feind' (I fight against the enemy) is correct, while using the nominative case would be incorrect.

Learn german with Maspeak →

German 500