jemandem über den Weg laufen
To bump into
Literalmente: To run over the path to someone
Use this phrase to describe any accidental, unplanned encounter with an acquaintance in a public place.
En 15 segundos
- Used for unplanned, accidental meetings with people you know.
- Requires the dative case for the person being met.
- Common in past tense with 'sein' (ich bin gelaufen).
Significado
This phrase is used when you unexpectedly meet someone you know while you are out and about. It's that classic 'small world' moment when you're buying groceries and suddenly see your old neighbor.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Telling a roommate about your day
Ich bin heute im Supermarkt meiner Ex-Freundin über den Weg gelaufen.
I ran into my ex-girlfriend at the supermarket today.
Chatting with a coworker
Stell dir vor, ich bin gestern dem Chef im Kino über den Weg gelaufen!
Imagine, I ran into the boss at the cinema yesterday!
Formal email follow-up
Es war nett, Ihnen gestern zufällig über den Weg zu laufen.
It was nice to accidentally run into you yesterday.
Contexto cultural
The phrase evokes the imagery of old European towns with narrow cobblestone streets where 'running into' someone was a daily occurrence. It highlights a cultural appreciation for serendipity in a society that is otherwise known for strict planning and punctuality. Interestingly, while Germans love their 'Termine' (appointments), this phrase celebrates the moments that aren't in the calendar.
The Dative Trap
Always remember that the person you bump into is in the dative case. It’s not 'mich', it’s 'mir' if someone bumps into me!
Don't use it for things
In English, you can 'run into a problem.' In German, you don't use this phrase for that. Use 'auf ein Problem stoßen' instead.
En 15 segundos
- Used for unplanned, accidental meetings with people you know.
- Requires the dative case for the person being met.
- Common in past tense with 'sein' (ich bin gelaufen).
What It Means
Imagine you are walking down a sidewalk. Suddenly, someone you know crosses your path. You didn't plan it. You didn't call them. You just happened to be in the same place at the same time. That is exactly what jemandem über den Weg laufen describes. It captures the randomness of life. It is the German equivalent of 'bumping into' or 'running into' someone.
How To Use It
You need the dative case for the person you meet. Use mir, dir, ihm, or a name. The verb laufen changes based on your subject. If you met them yesterday, use the perfect tense: Ich bin ihm über den Weg gelaufen. Note that we use sein as the helping verb. It sounds very natural in conversation. You can use it for friends, colleagues, or even celebrities.
When To Use It
Use this when the meeting was a total surprise. Maybe you were at a music festival. Perhaps you were just grabbing a coffee. It’s perfect for storytelling. 'You won't believe who I ran into today!' becomes Du glaubst nicht, wer mir heute über den Weg gelaufen ist! It works great in texts. It also works for casual office chat. It adds a bit of flavor to your speech.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use this if you had an appointment. If you met for lunch at 1:00 PM, you didn't 'run over their path.' That would sound like you forgot you invited them! Also, avoid it in very stiff legal documents. It’s a bit too colorful for a police report. Don't use it for inanimate objects. You don't 'run into' a good idea with this phrase. Stick to people.
Cultural Background
Germans value their privacy, but they love a good coincidence. The 'Weg' (path) symbolizes the journey of your day. In old times, paths were narrow and specific. Crossing paths was a significant event. Today, it reflects the busy, urban lifestyle of German cities. It suggests that despite our busy schedules, we are all connected. It’s a friendly way to acknowledge shared spaces.
Common Variations
You might hear jemandem zufällig begegnen. That is the more formal cousin. If you want to sound more intense, you could say jemandem in die Arme laufen. That implies you almost literally crashed into them! Another variation is sich über den Weg laufen. This is used when two people meet each other. 'We keep bumping into each other' becomes Wir laufen uns ständig über den Weg.
Notas de uso
The phrase is widely used in everyday spoken German. It is perfectly neutral—neither too slangy nor too stiff—making it a versatile tool for your vocabulary. Just remember the dative case!
The Dative Trap
Always remember that the person you bump into is in the dative case. It’s not 'mich', it’s 'mir' if someone bumps into me!
Don't use it for things
In English, you can 'run into a problem.' In German, you don't use this phrase for that. Use 'auf ein Problem stoßen' instead.
Small World Syndrome
Germans often follow this phrase with 'Die Welt ist klein!' (The world is small!) to acknowledge the coincidence.
Ejemplos
6Ich bin heute im Supermarkt meiner Ex-Freundin über den Weg gelaufen.
I ran into my ex-girlfriend at the supermarket today.
Perfect for awkward or surprising coincidences.
Stell dir vor, ich bin gestern dem Chef im Kino über den Weg gelaufen!
Imagine, I ran into the boss at the cinema yesterday!
Shows the phrase works even for people of higher status if the meeting was accidental.
Es war nett, Ihnen gestern zufällig über den Weg zu laufen.
It was nice to accidentally run into you yesterday.
The addition of 'zufällig' makes it slightly more polite and clear.
Wir laufen uns ständig über den Weg, oder?
We keep running into each other, don't we?
Uses the reflexive 'uns' to show a mutual accidental meeting.
Ich bin in Berlin einem berühmten Schauspieler über den Weg gelaufen.
I ran into a famous actor in Berlin.
Used to describe a 'star-struck' moment.
Bist du Thomas heute zufällig über den Weg gelaufen?
Did you happen to run into Thomas today?
A common way to ask if someone has been spotted around.
Ponte a prueba
Complete the sentence with the correct dative pronoun.
Ich war im Park und bin ___ (him) über den Weg gelaufen.
The phrase 'jemandem über den Weg laufen' always requires the dative case. 'Ihm' is the dative form of 'er'.
Choose the correct auxiliary verb for the past tense.
Wir ___ uns gestern in der Stadt über den Weg gelaufen.
Verbs of movement like 'laufen' use 'sein' as the auxiliary verb in the Perfekt tense.
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Formality Scale
Too structured for street slang.
N/A
Perfect for friends and family.
Bist du ihm begegnet?
The sweet spot for this phrase.
Ich bin ihm über den Weg gelaufen.
Acceptable in polite conversation.
Wir sind uns begegnet.
Where to use 'Über den Weg laufen'
Grocery Shopping
Seeing a teacher at the store.
Commuting
Seeing a friend on the train.
Vacation
Seeing a neighbor in another city.
Nightlife
Bumping into a colleague at a bar.
Preguntas frecuentes
12 preguntasIt means to meet someone by chance without having planned it. For example: Ich bin ihm im Park über den Weg gelaufen.
No, that would sound strange. If you planned it, just use treffen. Über den Weg laufen is strictly for surprises.
Yes, it is neutral enough. You can say: Schön, Ihnen über den Weg zu laufen! (Nice to run into you!)
It always takes the dative case. You would say meinem Bruder (dative) rather than mein Bruder (nominative).
No, it is almost exclusively used for people. For objects or ideas, use auf etwas stoßen.
Not really a shorter version, but jemanden treffen is the basic verb, though it lacks the 'accidental' nuance.
It uses the Perfekt with 'sein'. Example: Ich bin ihr über den Weg gelaufen.
No, it is understood and used throughout Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.
No, it's a standard idiom. It's safe for work, school, and casual settings.
Yes, you can. It implies you were in the same space, even if the interaction was brief.
Begegnen is more formal. Über den Weg laufen is more descriptive and common in spoken German.
Yes, though less common. Hoffentlich laufen wir uns mal wieder über den Weg! (Hopefully we'll run into each other again!)
Frases relacionadas
jemandem begegnen
jemandem in die Arme laufen
sich zufällig treffen
auf jemanden stoßen
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