begehren
to desire, to covet
Advanced Verb
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Pronunciation
/bəˈɡeːʁən/
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Cultural Note
Begehren is a literary and somewhat elevated word for desire, carrying strong connotations of physical and emotional longing. It appears in the Ten Commandments ('Du sollst nicht begehren...' — Thou shalt not covet) and in high literature. In modern romantic usage, it implies intense, passionate wanting. The noun 'Begehren' and adjective 'begehrenswert' (desirable) share this intensity.
📝 Example Sentences
Er begehrte sie vom ersten Augenblick an.
He desired her from the first moment.
Sie ist eine begehrte Frau.
She is a much-desired woman.