to befall
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to befall someone
To happen to a person or be experienced by them. The word is mostly used for fateful, unexpected, or negative events and belongs to an elevated style of language.
Dem Reisenden ist auf seinem Weg viel Unheil widerfahren.
Much misfortune befell the traveler on his journey.
'Widerfahren' (to befall) is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'wider-' remains firmly attached to the verb in all conjugated forms and sentence positions.
Ich kann nicht glauben, was ihm widerfahren ist.
I can't believe what befell him.
This verb requires a special sentence structure: the person to whom something happens is always in the dative. The event itself is the subject in the nominative.
Dem Opfer ist großes Unrecht widerfahren.
A great injustice befell the victim.
'Widerfahren' (to befall) is a word of elevated style and is rarely used in everyday speech. It usually describes fateful, serious, or negative events.
In alten Geschichten widerfährt den Helden oft ein seltsames Schicksal.
In old stories, a strange fate often befalls the heroes.
Typical subjects used with 'widerfahren' (to befall) are abstract nouns such as 'Unrecht' (injustice), 'Gerechtigkeit' (justice), 'ein Schicksal' (a fate), or 'Glück' (luck).
Nach all den Jahren ist ihm endlich Gerechtigkeit widerfahren.
After all those years, justice finally befell him.
to happen / pass
Passieren and widerfahren can both say that a person experienced something. Passieren is neutral and commonly used in everyday speech, while widerfahren sounds elevated and usually refers to a fateful, unexpected, or negative event. Passieren is suitable in normal conversation; widerfahren conveys a more solemn, often more serious tone.
Nach dem Sturz ist ihm zum Glück nichts Schlimmes widerfahren.
Luckily, nothing bad befell him after the fall.
Nach dem Sturz ist ihm zum Glück nichts Schlimmes passiert.
Luckily, nothing bad happened to him after the fall.
