01
bevölkern
populate
To live as inhabitants in an area, country, or place.
example
Verschiedene indigene Stämme bevölkerten ursprünglich diesen Kontinent.
Various indigenous tribes originally populated this continent.
bevölkern
to populate / to fill
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Meanings
01 / 02
Usage tips
Word structure
This verb is derived from the noun 'das Volk' (the people). The inseparable prefix 'be-' makes it a transitive verb that literally means to fill a place 'with people'.
EXAMPLE
Unzählige Insekten bevölkern diesen Wald.
Countless insects populate this forest.
Sentence structure with the accusative
'Bevölkern' (to populate/fill) always requires a direct object in the accusative that denotes the place or area. It is also often used in the passive to emphasize the place.
EXAMPLE
Die Küste wird von vielen verschiedenen Vogelarten bevölkert.
The coast is populated by many different species of birds.
Context clue
The context shows whether permanent settlement (m01) or a temporary crowd of people (m02) is meant. In m01, the subjects are often 'Stämme' (tribes), 'Arten' (species), or 'Einwohner' (inhabitants). In m02, they are typically 'Touristen' (tourists), 'Fans' (fans), or 'Besucher' (visitors).
EXAMPLE
Vor Jahrhunderten bevölkerten Kelten diese Region.
Centuries ago, Celts populated this region.
Typical collocations
In the meaning 'to fill a place', the verb is often used for public spaces. Typical combinations are 'die Strände bevölkern' (to fill the beaches), 'die Einkaufsstraßen bevölkern' (to fill the shopping streets), or 'den Park bevölkern' (to fill the park).
EXAMPLE
An sonnigen Tagen bevölkern Familien die Spielplätze.
On sunny days, families fill the playgrounds.
Compare with
bevölkern vs leben
to live
'leben' and 'bevölkern' can both say that people or animals are in a place. 'leben' is used when talking about individual people, groups, or residents and saying where their home is. 'bevölkern' focuses more strongly on the place: a group of people or animals fills or inhabits an area. It is not used for a single person. In addition, 'bevölkern' can also mean that many people are only temporarily in a place. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with inhabitants. In practice: people 'leben' somewhere; many people or animals 'bevölkern' a place.
bevölkern
Im Sommer bevölkern viele Touristen die engen Straßen der Altstadt.
In summer, many tourists fill the narrow streets of the old town.
leben
Meine Tante lebt seit vielen Jahren in einem kleinen Dorf am See.
My aunt has lived in a small village by the lake for many years.
In real life
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