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fressen. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
fressen, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
fressen in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
fressen you have here. The definition of the word
fressen will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
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Catalan
Pronunciation
Verb
fressen
- third-person plural present indicative of fressar
German
Etymology
From Middle High German frezzen, from Old High German frezzan, firezzan, from Proto-West Germanic *fraetan. Cognate with Dutch vreten, English fret, Gothic 𐍆𐍂𐌰𐌹𐍄𐌰𐌽 (fraitan), Swedish fräta.
Pronunciation
Verb
fressen (class 5 strong, third-person singular present frisst, past tense fraß, past participle gefressen, past subjunctive fräße, auxiliary haben)
- (transitive or intransitive, of an animal) to eat; to feed on; to devour
- (transitive or intransitive, of a person, derogatory) to stuff oneself; to gorge oneself; to eat like a pig
Erst kommt das Fressen, dann kommt die Moral.- First comes the stomach, then comes ethics.
- (figurative, chiefly reflexive) to eat away (e.g. metal)
- (figurative, transitive) to consume, to guzzle, to burn (e.g. fuel, money)
- (transitive, colloquial, perfect only) to despise, to have a pet peeve against
- Den hab ich ja gefressen! ― I can’t stand that guy! (literally, “I have eaten that one.”)
Conjugation
Conjugation of
fressen (class 5
strong, auxiliary
haben)
1Rare except in very formal contexts; alternative in würde normally preferred.
Composed forms of
fressen (class 5
strong, auxiliary
haben)
Derived terms
Related terms
Descendants
Further reading