01
der Angriff
attack
A violent, hostile action against someone or something, especially in a military context.
example
Der Angriff auf die Stadt begann im Morgengrauen.
The attack on the city began at dawn.
der Angriff
attack
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Word family
'Der Angriff' (the attack) is the noun for the verb 'angreifen' (to attack). The basic meaning of 'greifen' (to grab) and the prefix 'an-' (towards) is still recognizable in the idea of an attack.
EXAMPLE
Die Wölfe greifen das verletzte Tier an.
The wolves attack the injured animal.
Correct preposition
The target of an attack is almost always expressed with the preposition 'auf' and the accusative. This structure applies to military, sports, and verbal attacks.
EXAMPLE
Die Hacker planten einen Angriff auf die Server der Bank.
The hackers planned an attack on the bank's servers.
Fixed expression
There is a well-known saying: 'Angriff ist die beste Verteidigung' (attack is the best defense). It means that in a conflict situation, it is best to become active yourself instead of only reacting.
EXAMPLE
Anstatt zu warten, ging er zum Chef und sagte seine Meinung – Angriff ist die beste Verteidigung.
Instead of waiting, he went to the boss and said what he thought — attack is the best defense.
Typical adjectives
A verbal or written attack is often described more precisely with adjectives like 'persönlich' (personal), 'scharf' (sharp/harsh), 'verbal' (verbal), or 'direkt' (direct).
EXAMPLE
Das war ein unnötig scharfer Angriff auf seine Arbeit.
That was an unnecessarily harsh attack on his work.
Medical context
In a medical context, 'Angriff' (attack) describes a sudden bout of an illness. It is often combined with the name of the illness, as in 'Asthma-Angriff' (asthma attack) or 'Panik-Angriff' (panic attack).
EXAMPLE
Bei einem Panik-Angriff kann die Atmung sehr schnell werden.
During a panic attack, breathing can become very fast.
Compare with
Angriff vs Kritik
criticism / review
'Kritik' and 'Angriff' can both refer to negative words about someone or something. 'Kritik' points out mistakes or weaknesses and can be meant objectively. An 'Angriff' is much harsher: it feels hostile and is often meant to hurt the other person or make them look bad. The words can be confused because harsh criticism can feel like an attack. If someone calmly says what is not good, 'Kritik' fits better. If the words are very aggressive or personal, 'Angriff' is more precise.
Angriff
Sein Kommentar war kein normaler Hinweis mehr, sondern ein persönlicher Angriff.
His comment was no longer just a normal suggestion, but a personal attack.
Kritik
Die Kritik der Kundin war klar, aber sie blieb freundlich.
The customer's criticism was clear, but she remained friendly.
In real life
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