der Gefallene
fallen soldier
A soldier who was killed in war or combat.
EXAMPLE
Der Gefallene wurde mit militärischen Ehren bestattet.
The fallen soldier was buried with military honors.
der Gefallene
fallen soldier
die Gefallene, die Gefallenen
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Meanings
Forms
At a glance
| gender | feminine die |
|---|---|
| plural | die Gefallenen |
| genitive | der Gefallenen |
The four cases
| singular | plural | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative | die Gefallene | die Gefallenen |
| accusative | die Gefallene | die Gefallenen |
| dative | der Gefallenen | den Gefallenen |
| genitive | der Gefallenen | der Gefallenen |
The article changes with the case; it is shown in colour.
Usage tips
Word family
'Der Gefallene' (the fallen soldier) is a nominalized participle of the verb 'fallen' (to fall). The form refers to a person who fell in combat. Because the participle is used as a noun, it is written with a capital letter in German.
EXAMPLE
Auf dem Friedhof erinnert eine Tafel an den Gefallenen.
A plaque in the cemetery commemorates the fallen soldier.
Register and style
The word belongs primarily to military, historical, and official language. It frequently appears in texts about memorial ceremonies, war graves, and military honors.
EXAMPLE
Bei der Gedenkfeier wurde in einer Ansprache an den Gefallenen erinnert.
At the memorial ceremony, the fallen soldier was remembered in a speech.
Typical collocations
Common collocations include 'einen Gefallenen bestatten' (to bury a fallen soldier), 'an einen Gefallenen erinnern' (to commemorate a fallen soldier), and 'ein Denkmal für einen Gefallenen errichten' (to erect a monument to a fallen soldier). With 'erinnern an' (to commemorate), the person being remembered is in the accusative case.
EXAMPLE
Die Gemeinde errichtete ein Denkmal für den Gefallenen.
The community erected a monument to the fallen soldier.
In real life
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