01
es ergeht jemandem
to fare
Describes a person's state or well-being. It expresses how someone is doing or what someone is going through.
example
Ich hoffe, es ergeht dir gut auf deiner Reise.
I hope you are faring well on your trip.
ergehen
to fare / to be issued
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Inseparable verb
'Ergehen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'er-' remains firmly attached to the stem 'gehen' in all tenses and sentence constructions.
EXAMPLE
Ein Haftbefehl gegen den Verdächtigen ist ergangen.
An arrest warrant has been issued for the suspect.
Dative construction
In the meaning 'sich befinden' (to be doing/to be situated), 'ergehen' is always used with 'es' as the subject and the person in the dative. The corresponding question is: 'Wie ergeht es dir/ihm/ihr?' (How are you/is he/is she faring?).
EXAMPLE
Seit seiner Beförderung ergeht es ihm finanziell deutlich besser.
Since his promotion, he has been faring significantly better financially.
Fixed expression
The expression 'etwas über sich ergehen lassen' (to endure something) is fixed. The object that one endures is in the accusative, and the reflexive pronoun 'sich' refers to the person who tolerates something.
EXAMPLE
Geduldig ließ sie die Kritik ihres Professors über sich ergehen.
Patiently, she endured her professor's criticism.
Reflexive with preposition
In this meaning, the verb is reflexive and is used with the fixed preposition 'in' followed by the dative. It often describes excessive, negative behavior.
EXAMPLE
Sie erging sich in endlosen Spekulationen über die Zukunft der Firma.
She indulged in endless speculation about the future of the company.
Register and context
This meaning of 'ergehen' belongs to formal administrative and legal language. You find it almost exclusively in official communications. Typical subjects are 'Urteil' (judgment), 'Beschluss' (decision/resolution), or 'Befehl' (order).
EXAMPLE
Gegen den Angeklagten erging ein strenges Urteil.
A severe judgment was issued against the defendant.
Compare with
ergehen vs gehen
to go
'gehen' and 'ergehen' can both have to do with a person's well-being. In the question 'Wie geht es dir?' (How are you?), 'gehen' is completely normal and everyday. 'Ergehen' is used in the form 'es ergeht jemandem', and it sounds more formal or narrative. It often describes how someone experiences a situation or what someone is going through. Learners may confuse the words because 'Wie geht es dir?' and 'Wie ergeht es dir?' can seem similar. In everyday life, people almost always say 'Wie geht es dir?'; 'Wie ergeht es dir?' fits better when asking about someone's experiences in a specific situation.
ergehen
Nach dem Umzug wollte Anna wissen, wie es ihrer Freundin in der neuen Stadt ergeht.
After the move, Anna wanted to know how her friend was faring in the new city.
gehen
Wie geht es deiner Schwester nach der Operation?
How is your sister doing after the operation?
In real life
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