verb
to happen, to take place
B1
'geschehen' means 'to happen' or 'to take place'. Intransitive, uses auxiliary sein in perfect tenses (ist geschehen). Strong/irregular verb: stem change e→a (Präteritum: geschah); past participle identical to infinitive (geschehen). No reflexive use; limited imperative forms and no passive in typical usage.
Examples
Das geschah vor langer Zeit.
That happened a long time ago.
Es ist ein Wunder geschehen.
A miracle has happened.
Es geschah ein Unfall, weil der Fahrer in der Kurve zu schnell fuhr.
An accident occurred because the driver was going too fast in the curve.
Details
Mnemonics
Imagine a small scene unfolding on a stage — you watch events 'happen' (geschehen) under the spotlight
sounds like 'guh-SHAY-en' — think 'go shay in' to remember something happening
Notes
Impersonal in common usage (often used as 'es geschieht'). Uses sein as auxiliary in perfect tenses (ist geschehen). Personal forms other than the impersonal 3rd person singular are not applicable; passive constructions and imperatives are not applicable for this impersonal verb.