Befallen Meaning in English
word · lemma: befall
bəˈfɑɫən
buh-FAH-luhn
bɪfˈɔːlən
bih-FAW-luhn
Definition
To happen to someone, usually something bad or unpleasant. Used to describe negative events that affect a person or group.
Usage & Nuances
Formal and literary; rarely used in everyday conversation. Most often refers to misfortune ('tragedy has befallen them'). Generally used in the passive (‘befell’ in past tense, or ‘has/have befallen’). Do not use for positive events.
Spanish: acontecer - suceder - sobrevenirPortuguese (BR): acontecer - suceder - sobrevirPortuguese (PT): acontecer - suceder - sobrevirChinese (Simplified): 降临 - 遭遇 (不幸) - 发生Chinese (Traditional): 降臨 - 遭遇 (不幸) - 發生Hindi: घटित होना - आ पड़नाArabic: حلّ - أصاب - وقع (عادة شيء سيء)Bengali: আঘাত হানা - আপতিত হওয়া - বিপর্যয় ঘটানোRussian: постигнуть - случиться (с несчастьем)Japanese: 降りかかる - 襲いかかるVietnamese: xảy ra (điều xấu) - giáng xuốngKorean: 닥치다 - 닥쳐오다 (불운, 재난 등의 의미로)Turkish: başına gelmek - olmak (kötü bir olay için)Urdu: پیش آنا - آن پڑنا (کسی ناگہانی آفت یا مصیبت کے لیے)Indonesian: menimpa - menimpa nasib buruk
Example Sentences
A great misfortune has befallen the city.
basic
No one knows why such trouble befell him.
basic
Many hardships have befallen the travelers.
basic
He couldn’t believe the bad luck that had befallen his family.
natural
It’s amazing how much tragedy can befall a place in just a few years.
natural
She tried to stay strong despite everything that had befallen her.
natural