bekämpfen
Translation
to fight, to combat, to control
Examples
Die Feuerwehr bekämpft das Feuer.
The fire brigade is fighting the fire.
Wir müssen die Ursachen der Armut bekämpfen.
We must combat the causes of poverty.
Er bekämpft die Krankheit mit Medikamenten.
He is fighting the illness with medication.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to fight, combat sth. The government wants to combat unemployment.
Similar Words
Synonyms: streiten (to argue), angreifen (to attack); Antonyms: unterstützen (to support), fördern (to promote)
Etymology
From the prefix 'be-' (acting upon something) + 'kämpfen' (to fight). Literally 'to fight upon something'.
Memory Tips
Think of 'be-combating' something. The prefix 'be-' often makes a verb transitive, meaning it takes a direct object like a disease, a fire, or poverty.