langen
to suffice
To be available in a sufficient amount; to be enough.
EXAMPLE
Langen die Getränke für alle Gäste auf der Party?
Will the drinks suffice for all the guests at the party?
langen
to suffice / reach
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Meanings
langen
to reach
To stretch out one's hand or arm toward something in order to take or touch it.
EXAMPLE
Er langte über den Tisch, um sich das Salz zu nehmen.
He reached across the table to take the salt.
langen
to hit
Colloquial for hitting someone or giving someone a blow.
EXAMPLE
Wenn du mich noch einmal provozierst, lange ich dir eine!
If you provoke me one more time, I'll hit you!
Usage tips
Word family
The verb 'langen' (to suffice/reach) is related to the adjective 'lang' (long). The basic idea is bridging a distance—whether with your arm to reach something, or in a figurative sense so that something is enough.
EXAMPLE
Kannst du mir bitte die Butter langen? Ich komme nicht dran.
Could you please pass me the butter? I can't reach it.
Sentence structure: to be enough
In the meaning 'ausreichen' (to be enough) or 'genügen' (to suffice), 'langen' (to suffice) is often used with the subject 'es' (it), or the thing that is sufficient is the subject. It does not need an object.
EXAMPLE
Wir haben nur noch zwei Flaschen Wasser. Das langt nicht für alle.
We only have two bottles of water left. That won't suffice for everyone.
Sentence structure: to reach
In the meaning 'greifen' (to reach/grab), 'langen' (to reach) almost always appears with a preposition that indicates direction. The most common combination is 'nach' + dative.
EXAMPLE
Sie langte in ihre Tasche und holte den Schlüssel heraus.
She reached into her bag and took out the key.
Register and sentence structure
The meaning 'schlagen' (to hit) is very colloquial and is used as a threat. The structure is fixed: the person being hit is in the dative.
EXAMPLE
Der Vater drohte dem frechen Jungen: „Wenn du das nochmal machst, lange ich dir eine!“
The father threatened the cheeky boy: 'If you do that again, I'll hit you!'
Compare with
langen vs reichen
to hand / to suffice
Reichen and langen can both mean that an amount is sufficient. Reichen is neutral standard German and appropriate in any context. Langen, on the other hand, is regional or colloquial, so it is more suited to a casual conversation.
langen
Hundert Euro langen doch für die Reparatur, sagte mein Nachbar.
One hundred euros is plenty for the repair, my neighbor said.
reichen
Laut Kostenplan reichen hundert Euro für die Reparatur.
According to the cost estimate, one hundred euros is enough for the repair.
In real life
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