anfahren
/ˈanˌfaːʁən/ verb B2- to start moving (of a vehicle; only of the very initial movement) · Der Zug fuhr langsam an. The train slowly started moving.· Bergauf muss man im Auto mit viel Gefühl anfahren. Uphill, you have to start the car just right.
- to approach, to come driving · Der Zug kommt angefahren. The train is approaching.
- to drive, go against [with gegen (+ accusative) ‘something, e.g. the wind, current’] · gegen den Wind anfahren to go against the wind
- to drive into, to hit (typically with only light damage to the vehicle, not a severe crash) · Er hat eine Katze angefahren He hit a cat [with his vehicle].
- to drive towards, to go to (a destination, typically as part of a schedule or range of operation) · Es gibt mehrere ICEs, die München anfahren. There are multiple ICEs that go to Munich.
- to rebuke, to snap at someone · Ich wurde vom Chef angefahren, dass ich zu langsam wäre. My boss snapped at me about how I was too slow.
- to start up, to spin up (a process, especially manifacturing)[auxiliary haben] · die Produktion wieder anfahren to start production again
Verb forms
- Infinitive
- anfahren
- Present (er)
- fährt an
- Präteritum (er)
- fuhr an
- Perfekt (er)
- ist angefahren
- Infinitive with zu
- anzufahren
A strong or irregular verb: its stem changes in some forms, so learn its main forms by heart.
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