01
sich prügeln
to fight
To physically attack and hit each other; to be involved in a brawl.
example
Zwei Jugendliche haben sich auf dem Schulhof geprügelt.
Two teenagers got into a fight in the schoolyard.
prügeln
to fight / beat
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Meanings
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Usage tips
Reflexive vs. transitive
The use of the verb changes the meaning: 'sich prügeln' is reflexive and means that two or more people are hitting each other. 'Jemanden prügeln' is transitive and means that one person is hitting another.
EXAMPLE
Die beiden Männer prügelten sich vor der Bar.
The two men fought in front of the bar.
Word family
The verb 'prügeln' comes from the noun 'der Prügel' (stick/club), which means a thick stick or cudgel. The word therefore expresses a very violent and brutal form of hitting.
EXAMPLE
Er drohte ihm mit einem Prügel.
He threatened him with a club.
Use with a preposition
If you want to express whom someone is fighting with, the preposition 'mit' followed by the dative is used. The structure is: Person A prügelt sich mit Person B.
EXAMPLE
Er hat sich in der Schule oft mit älteren Schülern geprügelt.
At school, he often fought with older students.
Compare with
prügeln vs kämpfen
to fight
'kämpfen' and 'prügeln' can both describe a physical confrontation. However, 'kämpfen' is more general and can also be used in sports, war, or serious conflicts. 'prügeln' is much narrower and means that someone hits violently or that people hit each other. It sounds clearly violent and negative. The words can be confused when two people get into a physical fight. As a guide: 'kämpfen' describes the fight as a situation; 'prügeln' emphasizes the hitting.
prügeln
Vor dem Termin prügelten sich zwei Männer vor dem Gebäude.
Before the appointment, two men got into a fight in front of the building.
kämpfen
Die Soldaten kämpften viele Stunden in der Nähe der Stadt.
The soldiers fought for many hours near the city.
In real life
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