befürchten in 30 Seconds
- Befürchten is a B1-level German verb meaning 'to fear' or 'to apprehend' a specific negative outcome.
- It is a regular, inseparable verb that does not use the 'ge-' prefix in its past participle form.
- Commonly used with 'dass' clauses or direct accusative objects to express professional or personal concerns.
- It differs from 'Angst haben' by being more cognitive and focused on a specific event rather than a general feeling.
The German verb befürchten is a cornerstone of expressing apprehension and anticipation of negative outcomes. Unlike the general feeling of 'Angst haben' (to be afraid), befürchten specifically targets a cognitive expectation that something undesirable will happen. It is a transitive verb, meaning it usually takes a direct object or a 'dass' clause. When you use this word, you are not just feeling a physical sensation of fear; you are making a prediction based on evidence or intuition that a specific negative event is likely. This nuance is vital for B1 learners to master as they move from simple emotions to more complex expressions of thought and probability.
- Grammatical Function
- It functions as a transitive verb, often followed by an accusative object or a subordinate clause starting with 'dass'.
- Semantic Range
- Covers everything from mild worry about the weather to serious political or personal apprehensions.
- Emotional Tone
- Generally formal to neutral; it sounds more sophisticated than simply saying 'Ich habe Angst'.
"Ich befürchte, dass wir den Zug verpassen werden, wenn wir uns nicht beeilen."
In a broader sense, befürchten implies a level of certainty or at least a strong suspicion. It is often used in news reporting to describe anticipated economic downturns, weather disasters, or political shifts. For instance, 'Experten befürchten eine Rezession' (Experts fear a recession). Here, the word bridges the gap between pure emotion and analytical forecasting. It is the 'thinking man's fear'.
"Die Anwohner befürchten Schlimmes nach dem schweren Unwetter."
Furthermore, the verb is inseparable. The prefix 'be-' often indicates that the action is directed toward an object or makes the verb transitive. In this case, it takes the root 'fürchten' (to fear) and focuses it on a specific anticipated event. This makes it a powerful tool for precision in German communication.
"Wir befürchten eine Verschlechterung der Lage."
- Synonym Comparison
- 'Ahnen' suggests a feeling, while 'befürchten' suggests a negative expectation.
- Antonym Logic
- 'Hoffen' is the direct positive counterpart, looking forward to a good outcome.
Using befürchten correctly requires understanding its syntactic flexibility. The most common structure is befürchten + dass-Satz. This allows you to explain exactly what you are worried about. For example: 'Ich befürchte, dass ich die Prüfung nicht bestehe.' Note that the verb in the 'dass' clause moves to the end. This is a classic B1 grammar point that learners must internalize.
- With a Noun: 'Ich befürchte das Schlimmste.' (I fear the worst.)
- With a 'dass' clause: 'Er befürchtet, dass es regnet.' (He fears that it will rain.)
- With an Infinitive: 'Sie befürchtet, zu spät zu kommen.' (She fears being late.)
Another sophisticated way to use it is with the 'es' placeholder: 'Ich befürchte es.' This is used when the context of the fear has already been established in the conversation. If someone asks, 'Glaubst du, die Preise steigen?', you can answer, 'Ich befürchte es.' This is much more natural than repeating the whole sentence.
"Es steht zu befürchten, dass die Verhandlungen scheitern."
In terms of tense, befürchten is a regular (weak) verb. Its forms are: befürchten (present), befürchtete (past), hat befürchtet (perfect). Because the prefix 'be-' is inseparable, the 'ge-' in the past participle is omitted. This is a common rule for verbs starting with be-, ent-, er-, ver-, and zer-.
When expressing degrees of fear, you can use adverbs like 'sehr', 'leise', or 'ernsthaft'. 'Ich befürchte ernsthaft um meine Stelle' (I seriously fear for my job). This adds emotional weight and clarity to your statement. In professional settings, using 'befürchten' shows a level of concern that is taken more seriously than 'Angst haben', which can sometimes sound childish or overly emotional.
You will encounter befürchten in various contexts, ranging from daily conversations to high-level journalism. In the news, it is almost ubiquitous. News anchors frequently say, 'Experten befürchten eine Zunahme der Arbeitslosigkeit' or 'Die Polizei befürchtet weitere Ausschreitungen'. In these contexts, it serves as a neutral, reporting verb that conveys a sense of looming negativity without being sensationalist.
In the Office
'Ich befürchte, wir können die Deadline nicht einhalten.' (Professional concern about project timing.)
At Home
'Ich befürchte, die Milch ist sauer geworden.' (Everyday minor worries.)
In literature, authors use befürchten to build suspense or to show a character's internal state of dread. It is less visceral than 'zittern' (to tremble) but more psychological. It describes the mental process of weighing risks and coming to a negative conclusion. If you are watching a German crime drama (Krimi), you might hear a detective say, 'Ich befürchte, der Täter ist bereits über alle Berge' (I fear the culprit is already long gone).
"Wie befürchtet, blieb der Erfolg aus."
Socially, it is used to politely deliver bad news. Instead of saying 'Du hast den Job nicht', a polite HR manager might say, 'Ich befürchte, wir müssen Ihnen eine Absage erteilen'. This softens the blow by framing the negative news as something the speaker also finds regrettable. This 'politeness' aspect is crucial for C1/C2 learners who need to navigate complex social interactions in German-speaking countries.
One of the most frequent errors learners make is confusing befürchten with Angst haben vor. While they overlap, they are not interchangeable. 'Angst haben vor' is followed by a noun in the dative case and describes a general phobia or emotional state. 'Befürchten' is transitive and describes the expectation of a specific event. You wouldn't say 'Ich befürchte vor Hunden'; you would say 'Ich habe Angst vor Hunden'.
- Wrong
- Ich befürchte vor dem Regen. (Mixing with 'Angst haben vor')
- Right
- Ich befürchte den Regen. / Ich befürchte, dass es regnet.
Another common mistake is the word order in 'dass' clauses. Because befürchten often triggers a subordinate clause, learners sometimes forget to push the conjugated verb to the end. 'Ich befürchte, dass er *kommt* nicht' is incorrect. It must be 'Ich befürchte, dass er nicht *kommt*'. This is a fundamental rule of German syntax that becomes very apparent when using this verb.
Learners also struggle with the difference between befürchten and fürchten. While very similar, 'fürchten' can be used reflexively ('sich fürchten vor') to mean 'to be afraid of', similar to 'Angst haben'. 'Befürchten' is never reflexive. You cannot say 'Ich befürchte mich'. This distinction is subtle but important for sounding natural. Finally, ensure you don't use 'befürchten' for positive expectations. You cannot 'befürchten' that you will win the lottery (unless you think winning would be a bad thing!). For positive things, use 'hoffen' or 'erwarten'.
To truly master befürchten, you must understand its neighbors in the semantic field of worry and anticipation. The most direct synonym is fürchten, but as mentioned, 'fürchten' is often more visceral or reflexive. Another close relative is besorgt sein (to be worried). While 'befürchten' focuses on the outcome, 'besorgt sein' focuses on the current state of mind of the person.
- Ahnen: To suspect or have a hunch. Usually more intuitive and less certain than befürchten.
- Vermuten: To assume or suppose. Neutral; can be used for both positive and negative outcomes.
- Erwarten: To expect. Neutral; depends entirely on the context.
- Grauen (vor): To dread. Much stronger than befürchten; implies a physical reaction of horror.
In a professional context, you might use Bedenken haben (to have concerns). This is a very 'German' way of expressing that you see potential problems. If a colleague says, 'Ich habe Bedenken bezüglich dieses Plans', they are essentially saying they 'befürchten', but in a more analytical, less emotional way. This is a great phrase to add to your business German vocabulary.
"Es besteht die Befürchtung, dass..."
Lastly, consider schwarzsehen (to be pessimistic/see the dark side). This is a more idiomatic way of saying someone constantly 'befürchtet' the worst. If someone is always worried, you might say, 'Hör auf, schwarz zu sehen!' (Stop being so pessimistic!). Understanding these nuances allows you to choose the exact level of intensity and formality required for your specific situation.
How Formal Is It?
Pronunciation Guide
Difficulty Rating
Grammar to Know
Inseparable prefixes (be-)
Subordinate clause word order (Verb at the end)
Transitive verbs and accusative case
Infinitive with 'zu'
Nominalization (die Befürchtung)
Examples by Level
Ich befürchte Regen.
I fear rain.
Direct accusative object.
Er befürchtet den Test.
He fears the test.
Transitive verb usage.
Wir befürchten das.
We fear that.
Pronoun as object.
Befürchtest du das auch?
Do you fear that too?
Question form.
Ich befürchte nichts.
I fear nothing.
Negation with 'nichts'.
Sie befürchtet eine Verspätung.
She fears a delay.
Noun 'Verspätung' in accusative.
Ich befürchte, es ist zu spät.
I fear it is too late.
Simple 'dass' clause (dass is omitted here).
Was befürchten Sie?
What do you fear?
Formal 'Sie' form.
Ich befürchte, dass es heute regnet.
I fear that it will rain today.
Subordinate clause with 'dass'.
Er hat befürchtet, dass er den Bus verpasst.
He feared that he would miss the bus.
Perfekt tense.
Wir befürchten eine schlechte Note.
We fear a bad grade.
Accusative object.
Sie befürchtete das Schlimmste.
She feared the worst.
Präteritum (Past tense).
Ich befürchte, nicht genug Zeit zu haben.
I fear not having enough time.
Infinitive construction with 'zu'.
Befürchten Sie Probleme?
Do you fear problems?
Direct question.
Wie befürchtet, war das Essen kalt.
As feared, the food was cold.
Participle used as an adverbial phrase.
Niemand befürchtet eine Gefahr.
No one fears a danger.
Subject 'Niemand'.
Ich befürchte, dass die Preise weiter steigen werden.
I fear that prices will continue to rise.
Future tense in 'dass' clause.
Es ist zu befürchten, dass der Plan scheitert.
It is to be feared that the plan will fail.
Formal construction 'zu befürchten'.
Viele Menschen befürchten den Klimawandel.
Many people fear climate change.
General social concern.
Ich befürchte, ich kann Ihnen nicht helfen.
I fear I cannot help you.
Polite refusal.
Die Experten befürchten eine Wirtschaftskrise.
The experts fear an economic crisis.
Professional context.
Haben Sie befürchtet, dass so etwas passiert?
Did you fear that something like this would happen?
Perfekt question.
Ich befürchte, dass wir uns verlaufen haben.
I fear that we are lost.
Everyday problem.
Er befürchtet, seinen Job zu verlieren.
He fears losing his job.
Infinitive with 'zu'.
Es steht zu befürchten, dass die Verhandlungen ergebnislos bleiben.
It is to be feared that the negotiations will remain fruitless.
High-level formal phrase.
Wie allgemein befürchtet, kam es zu Ausschreitungen.
As generally feared, riots occurred.
Adverbial participle phrase.
Ich befürchte ernsthaft um die Sicherheit der Passagiere.
I seriously fear for the safety of the passengers.
Using 'um' for specific concern (rare but possible).
Man befürchtet, dass die Dunkelziffer viel höher ist.
It is feared that the dark figure (unreported cases) is much higher.
Impersonal 'man'.
Ich befürchte, dass meine Warnungen ignoriert wurden.
I fear that my warnings were ignored.
Passive voice in 'dass' clause.
Sie befürchteten, dass die Wahrheit ans Licht kommt.
They feared that the truth would come to light.
Präteritum.
Es gibt Grund zu befürchten, dass die Inflation anhält.
There is reason to fear that inflation will persist.
Noun phrase 'Grund zu befürchten'.
Ich befürchte fast, dass wir keine Wahl haben.
I almost fear that we have no choice.
Using 'fast' to emphasize the realization.
Es ist kaum zu befürchten, dass diese Maßnahme Erfolg hat.
It is hardly to be feared that this measure will succeed (ironic).
Ironic/Skeptical usage.
Ich befürchte, dass die gesellschaftliche Spaltung zunimmt.
I fear that social division is increasing.
Abstract social concept.
Die Anwohner befürchten eine massive Lärmbelästigung.
The residents fear massive noise pollution.
Specific technical noun.
Man muss befürchten, dass die Ressourcen bald erschöpft sind.
One must fear that resources will soon be exhausted.
Modal verb 'muss'.
Ich befürchte, dass wir die Tragweite der Entscheidung unterschätzen.
I fear that we are underestimating the scope of the decision.
Complex vocabulary.
Wie von Kritikern befürchtet, erwies sich das Gesetz als lückenhaft.
As feared by critics, the law proved to be full of loopholes.
Passive participle phrase.
Ich befürchte, dass die diplomatischen Bemühungen ins Leere laufen.
I fear that the diplomatic efforts will come to nothing.
Idiomatic 'ins Leere laufen'.
Es steht zu befürchten, dass die Krise systemische Ausmaße annimmt.
It is to be feared that the crisis will take on systemic proportions.
Highly formal academic style.
Es ist zu befürchten, dass die anthropogenen Einflüsse irreversibel sind.
It is to be feared that the anthropogenic influences are irreversible.
Scientific terminology.
Ich befürchte, dass die kognitive Dissonanz in der Bevölkerung wächst.
I fear that cognitive dissonance among the population is growing.
Psychological terminology.
Wie befürchtet, entpuppte sich die Reform als bloße Makulatur.
As feared, the reform turned out to be mere waste paper.
Idiomatic 'Makulatur'.
Man befürchtet eine Erosion der demokratischen Grundwerte.
An erosion of basic democratic values is feared.
Metaphorical usage.
Ich befürchte, dass wir uns in einer Sackgasse der Geschichte befinden.
I fear that we are in a dead end of history.
Philosophical context.
Es steht zu befürchten, dass die Eskalationsspirale unaufhaltsam ist.
It is to be feared that the spiral of escalation is unstoppable.
Political metaphor.
Ich befürchte, dass die Nuancen in der Debatte verloren gehen.
I fear that the nuances in the debate are being lost.
Abstract concept.
Entgegen aller Befürchtungen blieb die Lage stabil.
Contrary to all fears, the situation remained stable.
Prepositional phrase with nominalization.
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
Often Confused With
Idioms & Expressions
Easily Confused
Sentence Patterns
How to Use It
It is strictly for negative expectations.
No 'ge-' in the past participle.
Usually no preposition; if needed, use 'um' for people's safety.
- Using 'vor' with befürchten.
- Adding 'ge-' to the past participle (gebefürchtet).
- Using it for positive expectations.
- Incorrect word order in 'dass' clauses.
- Confusing it with the reflexive 'sich fürchten'.
Tips
No 'ge-'
Remember that verbs with the prefix 'be-' never take 'ge-' in the past participle. It is always 'befürchtet'.
Befürchten vs. Hoffen
Think of these as opposites. You 'hoffen' for a sun, you 'befürchten' rain.
Professionalism
Use 'befürchten' in meetings to sound more objective and less emotional than using 'Angst haben'.
Dass-Clauses
Practice your word order. The verb must go to the very end after 'dass'.
News Reading
Look for this word in German news headlines to see it used in real-world contexts.
Polite Bad News
Start a difficult sentence with 'Ich befürchte...' to make the news sound more empathetic.
Nominalization
Use 'Es besteht die Befürchtung...' for a very formal, high-level writing style.
Visual Aid
Visualize a 'Caution' sign. That sign is there because someone 'befürchtet' an accident.
The 'ch'
The 'ch' in befürchten is the 'ich-Laut'. Keep it soft, not like the 'ach-Laut'.
Short Answers
Learn 'Ich befürchte es' as a set phrase for 'I'm afraid so'.
Memorize It
Visual Association
Imagine a person looking at a dark cloud (the specific event) and pointing at it with a worried face.
Word Origin
Cultural Context
It is more formal than 'Angst haben'.
Standard word in Tagesschau (German news).
Used to soften bad news.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
Conversation Starters
"Befürchtest du, dass die KI Arbeitsplätze ersetzt?"
"Was befürchten die Menschen in deinem Land am meisten?"
"Befürchtest du auch, dass es am Wochenende regnet?"
"Gibt es etwas, das du im Moment ernsthaft befürchtest?"
"Befürchten Sie, dass die Preise für Mieten weiter steigen?"
Journal Prompts
Schreibe über eine Situation, in der du das Schlimmste befürchtet hast, aber alles gut ausging.
Welche ökologischen Folgen befürchtest du für die Zukunft?
Befürchtest du manchmal, dass du beim Deutschlernen nicht schnell genug vorankommst?
Was befürchten Experten für die Weltwirtschaft im nächsten Jahr?
Beschreibe deine größte Befürchtung bezüglich deiner Karriere.
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsNo, 'befürchten' does not take the preposition 'vor'. Use 'Ich habe Angst vor dir' or 'Ich fürchte mich vor dir'.
Yes, it is exclusively used for negative expectations. For positive things, use 'hoffen'.
The past participle is 'befürchtet'. There is no 'ge-' because 'be-' is an inseparable prefix.
It is neutral to formal. It is very common in newspapers and professional settings.
Yes, e.g., 'Ich befürchte, zu spät zu kommen.'
The noun is 'die Befürchtung' (plural: die Befürchtungen).
No, it takes the accusative case for its object.
No, 'befürchten' is not reflexive. Use 'Ich fürchte mich' (without the 'be-').
In German, you say 'Ich befürchte es' or 'Ich befürchte ja'.
Yes, frequently, especially when discussing plans or potential problems.
Test Yourself 210 questions
/ 210 correct
Perfect score!
Summary
Mastering 'befürchten' allows you to express concern and negative expectations with precision and formality, moving your German beyond simple emotional descriptions into the realm of analytical and professional communication.
- Befürchten is a B1-level German verb meaning 'to fear' or 'to apprehend' a specific negative outcome.
- It is a regular, inseparable verb that does not use the 'ge-' prefix in its past participle form.
- Commonly used with 'dass' clauses or direct accusative objects to express professional or personal concerns.
- It differs from 'Angst haben' by being more cognitive and focused on a specific event rather than a general feeling.
No 'ge-'
Remember that verbs with the prefix 'be-' never take 'ge-' in the past participle. It is always 'befürchtet'.
Befürchten vs. Hoffen
Think of these as opposites. You 'hoffen' for a sun, you 'befürchten' rain.
Professionalism
Use 'befürchten' in meetings to sound more objective and less emotional than using 'Angst haben'.
Dass-Clauses
Practice your word order. The verb must go to the very end after 'dass'.
Related Content
Related Phrases
More emotions words
abgeneigt
B1Having a strong dislike of or opposition to something; averse.
ablehnend
B1disapproving, rejecting
abneigen
B1To feel aversion or dislike towards someone or something.
Abneigung
B1aversion, dislike
Abscheu
B1A feeling of intense dislike or abhorrence.
abscheuen
B1To regard with disgust and hatred; to abhor.
Ach!
A1Oh, ah, expressing surprise, pain, or realization.
ach
A2oh, ah; expressing various emotions like surprise, understanding, or regret.
akzeptierend
B1accepting
Albtraum
A2Nightmare; a frightening or unpleasant dream.
