herrschen
Translation
to rule, to reign, to prevail
Examples
Der König herrschte über das Land.
The king ruled over the country.
Im Raum herrschte Stille.
Silence prevailed in the room.
Hier herrscht ein angenehmes Klima.
A pleasant climate prevails here.
Grammar Patterns
((über+4)) to rule over sb./sth. The queen reigned over the kingdom for 50 years.
(intransitive) to prevail (of a condition) Chaos reigned in the city.
Similar Words
Synonyms: regieren, dominieren; Antonyms: dienen, gehorchen
Etymology
Derived from 'der Herr' (the lord, master). It literally means 'to act as a lord'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'Herr' as in 'Mr.' or 'Lord'. A 'Herr' is someone who rules, so 'herrschen' is the action of ruling.