gefallen
fallen
Killed in war or combat.
EXAMPLE
Die im Krieg gefallenen Soldaten wurden auf dem Friedhof beigesetzt.
The soldiers who had fallen in the war were buried in the cemetery.
gefallen
fallen
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Meanings
gefallen
fallen
Having lost one's good reputation, high position, or moral standing.
EXAMPLE
Der gefallene Politiker fand nur schwer in sein früheres Leben zurück.
The fallen politician struggled to return to his former life.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry gefallen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Comparison
| basic form | gefallen |
|---|
Usage tips
Context clue
With 'gefallen' (fallen), the surrounding words usually indicate the intended meaning: military terms and commemorative texts point to death in war, while words such as 'Ruf' (reputation), 'Macht' (power), or 'Karriere' (career) point to a loss of standing or position.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Denkmal stehen die Namen der im Krieg gefallenen Soldaten.
The monument bears the names of the soldiers who fell in the war.
Der gefallene Minister verlor auch nach dem Rücktritt nicht jede öffentliche Aufmerksamkeit.
The fallen minister continued to receive some public attention even after resigning.
Typical collocations
In its military sense, 'gefallen' (fallen) often accompanies terms for people and references to war or combat. Typical combinations include 'gefallene Soldaten' (fallen soldiers), 'im Kampf gefallen' (fallen in combat), and 'im Krieg gefallen' (fallen in war); this meaning often appears in historical or official texts.
EXAMPLE
Im Museum wird an die gefallenen Soldaten der Stadt erinnert.
The museum commemorates the city's fallen soldiers.
Typical collocations
In its figurative sense, 'gefallen' (fallen) often describes a person who has lost their reputation, influence, or moral standing. Common combinations include 'ein gefallener Politiker' (a fallen politician), 'ein gefallener Star' (a fallen star), and 'tief gefallen' (fallen far).
EXAMPLE
Der einst gefeierte Schauspieler galt nach dem Skandal als gefallener Star.
The once-celebrated actor was considered a fallen star after the scandal.
In real life
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