anfangen vs losgehen
German word comparison
Listen to anfangen
Listen to losgehen
| anfangen | losgehen |
|---|---|
AN-fahn-gen verb (separable) | /ˈloːsɡeːən/ verb (separable) |
| to begin or start (an action, event, or process) | to get going, to start (often implying movement or that an event begins) |
How they differ
Losgehen usually conveys movement or the immediate/sudden start of an event ('the party gets going' or 'it started to rain'); anfangen is more neutral and doesn't inherently imply motion or spontaneity.
When to use each
When to use anfangen: Use anfangen for neutral descriptions of starting an action or process.
When to use losgehen: Use losgehen for events that start, for things that set off or for colloquial expressions implying movement or an immediate start.
Side-by-side examples
- Sie fängt jeden Morgen um acht an zu arbeiten.
(She starts working every morning at eight.) - Die Party geht um neun los.
(The party starts at nine.)
Register & nuance: Losgehen is colloquial and idiomatic, common in spoken German; it is less appropriate for formal writing.