brawl
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brawl
A violent physical altercation between several people in which people hit and push each other.
Vor der Kneipe kam es in der Nacht zu einer üblen Schlägerei.
There was a nasty brawl outside the pub during the night.
The word is derived from the verb 'schlagen' (to hit). The ending '-erei' often describes an intensive or chaotic action, so here it means intense hitting between several people.
Die Polizei musste die Schlägerei zwischen den Fußballfans beenden.
The police had to stop the brawl between the football fans.
To describe the outbreak of a brawl, the impersonal expression 'es kommt zu einer Schlägerei' (a brawl breaks out / there is a brawl) is used very frequently. Note the dative after the preposition 'zu'.
Nach dem Streit kam es zu einer heftigen Schlägerei.
After the argument, a violent brawl broke out.
Common verbs used in connection with 'Schlägerei' (brawl) are 'in eine Schlägerei geraten' (to get caught up in a brawl) or 'sich an einer Schlägerei beteiligen' (to take part in a brawl).
Er wollte nur schlichten und geriet dabei selbst in die Schlägerei.
He only wanted to mediate and ended up getting caught up in the brawl himself.
fight / struggle
'der Kampf' and 'die Schlägerei' can both describe a physical confrontation. 'der Kampf' is more general and can also take place according to rules, for example in sports, or refer to war. 'die Schlägerei' means a chaotic and violent situation in which several people hit or push each other. The word sounds more like a conflict in the street, in a pub, or at a party. Learners may confuse the words because both can involve physical violence. If it is wild, unplanned, and involves punches between several people, 'Schlägerei' fits better. 'Kampf' is broader and can also sound more regulated or more serious.
Nach dem Fußballspiel kam es vor dem Stadion zu einer Schlägerei.
After the soccer match, a brawl broke out in front of the stadium.
Der Kampf im Boxring begann pünktlich um acht Uhr.
The fight in the boxing ring began right on time at eight o'clock.