German edit

Etymology edit

From Middle High German begaten (to reach, meet, join), from Old High German bigatōn. Equivalent to be- +‎ Gatte (spouse”, originally “companion) +‎ -en. The modern sense of the verb (17th c.) follows the semantic development of the noun. Not related with English beget.

Pronunciation edit

  • IPA(key): /bəˈɡatən/
  • Hyphenation: be‧gat‧ten
  • (file)

Verb edit

begatten (weak, third-person singular present begattet, past tense begattete, past participle begattet, auxiliary haben)

  1. (transitive, of a male animal) to mate [+accusative = with]
    Synonyms: bespringen, decken
  2. (reflexive, of animals) to copulate
    Synonym: sich paaren

Usage notes edit

  • Sometimes used of humans, but this is deliberately coarse or flippant.

Conjugation edit

Derived terms edit

Further reading edit

  • begatten” in Duden online
  • begatten” in Digitales Wörterbuch der deutschen Sprache