01
passieren
to happen
To occur, to take place. Describes an event or incident that happens.
example
Gestern ist auf der Autobahn ein Unfall passiert.
Yesterday, an accident happened on the highway.
passieren
to happen / pass
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Perfect tense with 'sein'
In the meaning 'geschehen' (to happen), 'passieren' always forms the perfect tense with the auxiliary verb 'sein' (to be), not with 'haben' (to have). This is an important exception for a verb that does not describe movement.
EXAMPLE
Was ist denn hier passiert?
What happened here?
Dative construction
When 'passieren' means 'geschehen' (to happen), the person something happens to is in the dative. The event itself is the subject of the sentence.
EXAMPLE
Dem Fahrer ist bei dem Unfall nichts passiert.
Nothing happened to the driver in the accident.
Context clues
You can recognize the meaning from the context: Is it about an event ('Was ist passiert?' — What happened?), a place ('die Grenze passieren' — to pass the border), or food in the kitchen ('Tomaten passieren' — to strain tomatoes)?
EXAMPLE
Es kann immer mal ein Fehler passieren.
A mistake can always happen now and then.
Accusative object
When 'passieren' means 'vorbeigehen' (to go past) or 'überqueren' (to cross), it requires an accusative object. This object is the place that one passes.
EXAMPLE
Die Wanderer müssen noch eine schmale Brücke passieren.
The hikers still have to pass a narrow bridge.
Cooking terminology
The meaning 'durch ein Sieb streichen' (to press through a sieve) is used almost exclusively in the context of cooking and food preparation. The verb often appears in the passive voice.
EXAMPLE
Die gekochten Kartoffeln werden für das Püree passiert.
The cooked potatoes are strained for the purée.
Compare with
passieren vs kommen
to come
'kommen' and 'passieren' can both express that something happens. 'passieren' is used directly for events or incidents, often when something is unexpected. 'kommen' has many meanings; in the sense of 'to happen', it often appears in certain forms such as 'es kommt zu einem Problem' (a problem arises) or 'wie konnte das kommen?' (how could that happen?). Learners may confuse the words because both occur in contexts involving events. In everyday language, 'passieren' is usually more natural when you are simply asking or saying what happened. 'kommen' fits better in fixed expressions or when something occurs or comes about.
passieren
Auf dem Weg zur Arbeit ist ein kleiner Unfall passiert.
A minor accident happened on the way to work.
kommen
Nach dem Streit kam es im Team zu einem langen Gespräch.
After the argument, a long conversation took place within the team.
In real life
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