From bonfires at Christmas markets to a cozy fireplace, winter in Germany is a time to keep warm! Different types of fires have different translations in German.

Der bereitet jetzt schon mal das Lagerfeuer für uns vor. -Oh, super!

He is now already preparing the bonfire for us. -Oh, super!

Caption 19, Meine Freundin Conni Conni schläft im Kindergarten

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Da waren auch Kinder. Sie naschten Süßigkeiten und spielten vergnügt am Kamin.

There were children as well. They nibbled candy and played happily by the fireplace.

Caption 17, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Das kleine Mädchen mit den Schwefelhölzern

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Meinen Ofen habe ich auf einhundertachtzig Grad vorgeheizt.

I have preheated my oven to one hundred eighty degrees [Celsius, about three hundred fifty Fahrenheit].

Caption 32, Apfelkuchen: mit Eva

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The word der Ofen refers to a kitchen oven, but it is also short for der Kohleofen ("the coal oven") or der Holzofen ("the wood stove"). As for the wood that is used for the fire, there are a few different words, including das Feuerholz, das Kaminholz, or das Brennholz. 

Er lief durch die Wüste und sammelte Feuerholz, um es zu verkaufen.

He was walking through the desert collecting firewood in order to sell it.

Caption 6, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Ali Baba und die 40 Räuber

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The verb used for lighting a fire is the same as lighting a match or candle: anzünden. 

Wir haben jedes Jahr im Advent Stollen gegessen und die Kerzen am Adventskranz angezündet.

We ate stollen every year during Advent and lit the candles on the Advent wreath.

Captions 24-25, Nicos Weg: Lieblingsfeste

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Wir benutzen sie, um ein Feuer anzuzünden.

We use them to light a fire.

Caption 29, Deutsch mit Eylin: Denk schnell!

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Two more relevant nouns are der Schornstein ("the chimney") and die Glut, which is a singular word for embers. 

Da entdeckte der Wolf den Schornstein.

Then the Wolf discovered the chimney.

Caption 66, Märchen - Sagenhaft: Die drei kleinen Schweinchen

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Absolute Spitze ist das Team „Gut Glut“.

The team "Gut Glut" ["Good Glows" or "Good Embers“] is absolutely great.

Caption 16, Deutscher Grillmeister: Es geht um die Wurst

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Further Learning
You'll find more examples of all of these words used in context on Yabla German.

Both fürchten and befürchten mean "to be afraid" in some sense, and although it's a bit confusing at first, have no fear! Let's first take a look at some of the differences, starting with fürchten:

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Es war richtig gewesen, den Wolf zu fürchten,

It had been right to fear the Wolf,

und richtig sich deshalb ein Steinhaus zu bauen.

and therefore right to build a stone house.

Captions 80-81, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Die drei kleinen Schweinchen

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Denn ihn fürchten sie: den Adler.

For it is the one they fear: the eagle.

Caption 19, Die letzten Paradiese - Die Schönheit der Alpen 2

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The verb fürchten is usually translated as "to fear" and can be used to describe the state of having real fear, of being truly afraid of something like a dangerous animal. But it can also be used to show fear of a situation: 

Viele Demonstranten fürchten,

Many demonstrators fear

dass Minderheiten in den USA nun kein Gehör mehr finden.

that minorities in the USA will now no longer be heard.

Captions 41-42, Tagesschau - Amtseinführung von Donald Trump

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The verb fürchten is also often used reflexively:

Ich trag' mein Licht und fürcht' mich nicht...

I'm carrying my light and have no fear...

Caption 3, Sankt Martin - Das Laternenlied

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Therefore, ich fürchte mich is another way of saying ich habe Angst or "I am afraid," and afraid in a serious way.

The verb befürchten, on the other hand, is never used reflexively and is generally used in situations where you're not literally afraid or having serious fears, but rather in situations where you are merely worried about something.

Sie befürchtete, dass ihr Herr noch immer in Gefahr war.

She was afraid that her lord was still in danger.

Caption 71, Märchen - Sagenhaft - Ali Baba und die 40 Räuber

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This could also have been translated that "she was worried" about her lord. 

Es ist, wie ich befürchtet hatte.

It is as I had feared.

Caption 10, Oskar - Gehen, wenn es am schönsten ist - Nur vier Wochen

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So even though befürchten is translated here as "to fear," it could equally have been translated as "to expect" with the implied connotation of expecting a negative development. 

Unfortunately, sometimes even native German speakers use fürchten (to fear) as a way of exaggerating a circumstance where befürchten (to be worried about) would be more appropriate, and also vice versa. The German Duden dictionary, the standard for the German language, is quite clear on its definitions of the two words, however. To reiterate: fürchten should generally be used to express real, direct fears, and befürchten in milder situations to express worry.

Further Learning
Translate these Duden definitions of fürchten and befürchten, then go to Yabla German and find some more examples of videos using these verbs. 

BANNER PLACEHOLDER

fürchten:

1. vor jemandem, etwas Angst haben; Unangenehmes ahnen, befürchten

2. Furcht empfinden, Angst haben

3. sich vor der Prüfung fürchten

4. vor jemandem Ehrfurcht haben

befürchten (only one definition):

(etwas Unangenehmes, was vielleicht eintrete könnte) aufgrund bestimmter Anzeichen oder intuitiv erwarten, kommen sehen.