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anfangen

/anˈfaŋən/
verb★Beginner— to start
general

To begin or start something, especially an activity or process.

Wir müssen früh anfangen, wenn wir pünktlich fertig werden wollen.

We need to start early if we want to finish on time.

Er hat vor einem Jahr mit dem Lernen einer neuen Sprache angefangen.

He started learning a new language a year ago.

💡

The verb 'anfangen' is separable, meaning the prefix 'an-' can be separated from the verb stem in certain grammatical constructions.

Collocations

anfangen zuto start tomit etwas anfangento start something

Synonyms

beginnenstarteneinleiten

Antonyms

aufhörenbeendenstoppen

Related Phrases

anfangen zuphrase
to start to
mit etwas anfangenphrase
to start something

💡Pro Tip

Separable Prefix

Remember that 'anfangen' is a separable verb, so in the past participle, the prefix 'an-' comes after the verb: 'Ich habe angefangen.'

⚡Gold Rule

Contextual Usage

'Anfangen' is versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but it is more common in everyday speech.

📖Word Origin

Derived from the Old High German 'anafangan', meaning 'to begin'. The prefix 'an-' indicates the start of an action.

📝Usage Notes

'Anfangen' is commonly used in everyday language to describe the initiation of an action or process. It is often used with the preposition 'mit' to specify what is being started.

Word Breakdown

an-
to, at
prefix
+
-fangen
to catch, to begin
root
Deutsch-Englisch Wörterbuch

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