über jemanden herfallen
to attack someone
To suddenly and violently attack or insult someone.
EXAMPLE
Mehrere Männer fielen plötzlich über den wehrlosen Passanten her.
Several men suddenly attacked the defenseless passerby.
herfallen
to attack / pounce on
herfallen – fiel her – ist hergefallen
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Meanings
über etwas herfallen
to pounce on something
To eagerly and immediately throw oneself at something, especially food.
EXAMPLE
Die Kinder fielen über den Kuchen her, sobald er auf dem Tisch stand.
The children pounced on the cake as soon as it was on the table.
Forms
Forms adapted from the German Wiktionary entry herfallen, by Wiktionary contributors, licence CC BY-SA 4.0.
Present
| ich | falle her |
|---|---|
| du | fällst her |
| er/sie/es | fällt her |
| wir | fallen her |
| ihr | fallt her |
| sie | fallen her |
Simple past
| ich | fiel her |
|---|---|
| du | fielst her |
| er/sie/es | fiel her |
| wir | fielen her |
| ihr | fielt her |
| sie | fielen her |
Perfect
with sein
| ich | bin hergefallen |
|---|---|
| du | bist hergefallen |
| er/sie/es | ist hergefallen |
| wir | sind hergefallen |
| ihr | seid hergefallen |
| sie | sind hergefallen |
Commands
| du | fall her! falle her! |
|---|---|
| ihr | fallt her! |
| Sie | fallen Sie her! |
Past perfect
| ich | war hergefallen |
|---|---|
| du | warst hergefallen |
| er/sie/es | war hergefallen |
| wir | waren hergefallen |
| ihr | wart hergefallen |
| sie | waren hergefallen |
Future
| ich | werde herfallen |
|---|---|
| du | wirst herfallen |
| er/sie/es | wird herfallen |
| wir | werden herfallen |
| ihr | werdet herfallen |
| sie | werden herfallen |
Subjunctive I
| ich | falle her |
|---|---|
| du | fallest her |
| er/sie/es | falle her |
| wir | fallen her |
| ihr | fallet her |
| sie | fallen her |
Used for reported speech.
Subjunctive II
| ich | fiele her |
|---|---|
| du | fielest her |
| er/sie/es | fiele her |
| wir | fielen her |
| ihr | fielet her |
| sie | fielen her |
Used for wishes and “would”.
Other forms
| infinitive | herfallen |
|---|---|
| with zu | herzufallen |
| present participle | herfallend |
| past participle | hergefallen |
Usage tips
Separable verb
'Herfallen' consists of 'her' and 'fallen' and is separable. In a main clause, 'her' is separated and placed at the end; in a subordinate clause, the verb remains together. With the infinitive preceded by 'zu', 'zu' comes between the two parts.
EXAMPLE
Die hungrigen Gäste fielen sofort über die belegten Brötchen her.
The hungry guests immediately pounced on the filled rolls.
Es dauerte nicht lange, bis die hungrigen Gäste über die belegten Brötchen herfielen.
It wasn't long before the hungry guests pounced on the filled rolls.
Die Gäste begannen, über die belegten Brötchen herzufallen.
The guests began to pounce on the filled rolls.
'Über' with the accusative
In both meanings, the pattern is 'über jemanden oder etwas herfallen' (to attack someone or pounce on something). 'Über' is followed by the accusative; the person being attacked or the food being eagerly eaten is not attached as a direct object.
EXAMPLE
Die Angreifer fielen über einen Radfahrer her.
The attackers set upon a cyclist.
Nach der Wanderung fielen wir über den restlichen Kuchen her.
After the hike, we pounced on the leftover cake.
Figurative everyday language
When referring to food, 'herfallen' is often used in informal storytelling. It is vivid and exaggerated, and can humorously express how hungry someone is or how much they want the food.
EXAMPLE
Wir sind über Omas Pfannkuchen hergefallen, als hätten wir seit Tagen nichts gegessen.
We pounced on Grandma's pancakes as if we hadn't eaten anything for days.
In real life
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