verlaufen
Translation
to proceed, to go, to get lost, to run
Examples
Die Besprechung verläuft gut.
The meeting is going well.
Er hat sich im Wald verlaufen.
He got lost in the forest.
Die Grenze verläuft zwischen den Ländern.
The border runs between the countries.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) proceeds/goes ((somehow)) sth. proceeds/goes somehow The party went well.
sich verlaufen to get lost I got lost on the way here.
Similar Words
Synonyms: stattfinden, geschehen (to happen); sich verirren (to get lost). Antonyms: den Weg finden (to find the way)
Etymology
From the prefix 'ver-' (indicating something going away or amiss) and 'laufen' (to run). Literally 'to run off' or 'run amiss', which leads to the meanings 'to get lost' and 'to proceed'.
Memory Tips
Think of a process 'running' its course (verlaufen), or 'running' off the path and getting lost (sich verlaufen).