01
fegen
to sweep
To clean a surface, usually the floor, with a broom by removing dirt, dust, or leaves.
example
Jeden Samstag muss ich den Hof fegen.
Every Saturday I have to sweep the courtyard.
fegen
to sweep
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Typical collocations
In its basic meaning, 'fegen' (to sweep) is often combined with the place or the dirt that is being removed. Common phrases are 'den Boden fegen' (to sweep the floor), 'die Straße fegen' (to sweep the street), or 'Laub fegen' (to sweep up leaves).
EXAMPLE
Vor dem Winter müssen wir das ganze Laub im Garten fegen.
Before winter, we have to sweep up all the leaves in the garden.
Context clue
You can recognize the figurative meaning from the subject of the sentence. If the subject is not a person with a broom, but rather the wind, a storm, or a person in a hurry, 'fegen' means 'to move quickly'.
EXAMPLE
Der kalte Wind fegte durch die leeren Straßen der Stadt.
The cold wind swept through the city's empty streets.
Auxiliary verb: haben or sein?
When 'fegen' describes a quick movement, 'sein' is usually used as the auxiliary verb to emphasize movement from A to B. The auxiliary verb 'haben', on the other hand, emphasizes the action itself.
EXAMPLE
Der Orkan ist über die Küste gefegt.
The hurricane swept over the coast.
Typical sports expression
In a sports context, 'fegen' is often used in the fixed expression 'jemanden vom Platz fegen' (to sweep someone off the field) to express a very clear victory.
EXAMPLE
Unsere Mannschaft hat den Gegner mit 6:0 vom Platz gefegt.
Our team swept the opponent off the field with a 6–0 win.
Register and style
The meaning 'to defeat decisively' is colloquial and typical of sports reporting. In a neutral or formal context, you would avoid this formulation.
EXAMPLE
Der Kommentator rief: „Was für ein Spiel! Sie fegen sie förmlich aus dem Stadion!“
The commentator shouted: 'What a game! They're practically sweeping them out of the stadium!'
Compare with
fegen vs schlagen
to hit / beat
'schlagen' and 'fegen' can both mean in sports that you defeat an opponent. 'schlagen' is the normal word for a win, whether it is close or clear. 'fegen' is used only when the win is very clear and dominant. It sounds figurative, as if one team were sweeping the other off the field. Learners may confuse the words because both express a victory. If the result is close, you say 'schlagen'; for a very high or easy win, 'fegen' can fit.
fegen
Die Klasse fegt die andere Mannschaft mit 8:0 vom Platz.
The class sweeps the other team off the field with an 8–0 win.
schlagen
Beim Turnier schlagen sie ihre Freunde erst in der letzten Minute.
In the tournament, they beat their friends only in the last minute.
In real life
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