geschehen

happen

verb ge-SHAY-en Less Common

Also means

occur

Usage Note

geschehen is a slightly formal word for events occurring, used with sein in the perfect (ist geschehen). It powers the polite reply gern geschehen ('you're welcome', literally 'gladly done'). Everyday speech often prefers passieren.

Examples

"Was ist hier geschehen?"

Natural Translation

What happened here?

Literal Translation

What is here happened?

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