gegen

See also: gegen-

German

Etymology

From Middle High German gegen, from Old High German gagan, from Proto-Germanic *gagin. Cognate with Dutch tegen, English against, Icelandic gegn.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɡe.ɡən/, [ˈɡeː.ɡn̩], [ˈɡeː.ɡŋ̍]

• audio:

  (file)

Preposition

gegen (+ accusative)

1. against

   Der Erklärung der Vereinten Nationen über die Beseitigung der Gewalt gegen Frauen.

   The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women.

Usage notes

• Like its Middle High German predecessor, gegen was formerly also used with the dative, especially by Upper German writers. Compare entgegen, which still takes dative.

Synonyms

• wider

---

Middle High German

Alternative forms

• gagen
• jegen
• gein, gēn (contractions)

Etymology

From Old High German gagan, Old High German gagen, Old High German gegin.

Preposition

gegen (+ dative, sometimes + accusative)

1. against