to fill
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to fill
To fill a container, mold, or space with something. The word is often used in a technical or formal context.
Der Mitarbeiter muss den Automaten täglich mit neuen Getränken befüllen.
The employee has to fill the vending machine with new drinks every day.
'Befüllen' (to fill) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'be-' remains firmly attached to the verb stem 'füllen' (to fill) in all tenses and sentence constructions.
Er hat den Tank bereits gestern befüllt.
He already filled the tank yesterday.
The verb 'befüllen' (to fill) follows a fixed sentence pattern: the person fills the container (accusative) with the contents (dative).
Bitte befüllen Sie die Flasche mit sauberem Wasser.
Please fill the bottle with clean water.
'Befüllen' (to fill) belongs to technical or written language. You often find it in operating instructions, technical descriptions, or work instructions.
Die Anlage muss nach jedem Produktionszyklus neu befüllt werden.
The system must be refilled after each production cycle.
to fill
'füllen' and 'befüllen' both mean that a container, mold, or space is made full with something. 'füllen' is the normal everyday word and fits almost all simple situations. 'befüllen' sounds more formal or technical. You are more likely to hear it with machines, tanks, systems, molds, or in instructions. Learners may confuse the words because their basic meaning is almost the same. In everyday life, people usually say 'füllen'; 'befüllen' fits better when the process is described in a factual, precise, or technical way.
In der Werkstatt wurde der Tank der Maschine neu befüllt.
In the workshop, the machine's tank was refilled.
Zu Hause füllt Tom die Gläser mit Apfelsaft.
At home, Tom fills the glasses with apple juice.