anfangen vs beginnen
German word comparison
Listen to anfangen
Listen to beginnen
| anfangen | beginnen |
|---|---|
AN-fahn-gen verb | [bəˈgɪnən] verb |
| to begin; to start | to begin; to commence |
How they differ
Beginnen is broadly synonymous with anfangen but is stylistically more formal and more common in written or neutral registers; anfangen is more colloquial and often used with the preposition 'mit' (e.g., 'mit etw. anfangen'), whereas beginnen can take a direct object or 'mit' and is preferred for abstract processes and formal descriptions.
When to use each
When to use anfangen: Prefer 'anfangen' in everyday spoken German and when describing people starting actions, especially using 'mit' (e.g., 'mit der Arbeit anfangen').
When to use beginnen: Prefer 'beginnen' in written, formal, or neutral contexts and when you want a slightly more formal tone for events or processes.
Side-by-side examples
- Wir fangen jetzt mit dem Meeting an.
(We're starting the meeting now.) - Wir beginnen jetzt mit dem Meeting.
(We are beginning the meeting now.)
Register & nuance: Beginnen is more formal/neutral than anfangen and is common in writing and formal speech.