befallen
infested
Affected by a disease or pests and thereby damaged or made ill.
EXAMPLE
Die befallenen Pflanzen müssen sofort entfernt werden.
The infested plants must be removed immediately.
befallen
infested / afflicted
Checking...
Loading your saved state.
Meanings
befallen
afflicted
Overcome by a strong feeling or an oppressive condition.
EXAMPLE
Plötzlich war sie von großer Angst befallen.
Suddenly, she was overcome by great fear.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry befallen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | befallen |
|---|
After der, die, das
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -e | -e | -e | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -e | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to befallen.
After ein, eine
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -en |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -en |
| dat. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
| gen. | -en | -en | -en | -en |
Add the ending to befallen.
Without article
| masc. | fem. | neut. | plural | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| nom. | -er | -e | -es | -e |
| acc. | -en | -e | -es | -e |
| dat. | -em | -er | -em | -en |
| gen. | -en | -er | -en | -er |
Add the ending to befallen.
Usage tips
The right preposition
The phrase 'von + dative' is used to name the disease, pests, or feeling that has affected someone or something. The pattern 'von etwas befallen sein' (to be affected by something) is common.
EXAMPLE
Mehrere Bäume im Garten sind von einem Pilz befallen.
Several trees in the garden are infested with a fungus.
Typical collocations
The extent of an infestation can be described with 'stark befallen' (heavily infested), 'leicht befallen' (lightly infested), or 'massiv befallen' (severely infested). 'Befallen' is especially common with plants, trees, and areas of skin.
EXAMPLE
Die Rosen sind so stark befallen, dass sie bereits viele Blätter verloren haben.
The roses are so heavily infested that they have already lost many leaves.
Register and style
When referring to feelings, 'befallen' sounds rather elevated and is especially common in narrative texts. Common collocations include 'von Angst befallen' (overcome by fear), 'von Zweifeln befallen' (plagued by doubts), and 'von Unruhe befallen' (overcome by restlessness).
EXAMPLE
Am Abend war er von einer seltsamen Unruhe befallen und konnte nicht einschlafen.
In the evening, he was overcome by a strange restlessness and could not fall asleep.
In real life
Loading video examples...