The word kriegen in German has roots in the Middle High German term kriegen, meaning "to fight" or "to strive," which, in turn, is derived from the Old High German krigan. Originally associated with combat or struggle, the term has since evolved to encompass a broader meaning, generally implying "to get" or "to receive" in contemporary usage.
Interestingly, kriegen has a more informal tone compared to its synonym bekommen. While bekommen is often used in formal contexts or written German, kriegen is preferred in casual, spoken language. For example, when someone says, "Ich kriege ein Geschenk," they mean "I’m getting a gift." The casual tone of kriegen makes it suitable for informal conversations, like when kids might say, "Ich kriege Eis," meaning "I’m getting ice cream." Another common scenario could be, "Wir kriegen Besuch," which translates to "We’re having guests," implying that someone is about to arrive.
The word takes on different meanings when combined with various prefixes. For example, mitkriegen means "to notice" or "to catch on," implying that you've managed to get some information, often indirectly or unexpectedly. If someone says, "Hast du das mitgekriegt?" they’re asking, "Did you catch that?" implying that the information might not have been immediately obvious.
Another common usage is rauskriegen, which means "to find out" or "to figure out." This suggests that you've obtained knowledge or uncovered something that was hidden or not easily accessible, again reflecting the idea of striving or effort embedded in the word’s history.
In more specific contexts, such as discussing war or conflict, kriegen can also directly reference its origins, as in Krieg führen ("to wage war"). Although kriegen itself is rarely used in this sense anymore, its root connection to battle is still evident in related terms.
The word erhalten can sometimes replace kriegen when you want to emphasize the receipt of something valuable or official, such as in "Ich habe die Dokumente erhalten" ("I have received the documents"). While kriegen might feel too casual or out of place here, erhalten conveys a sense of importance or formal acknowledgment.
Thus, while kriegen might have humble, combative origins, it has grown into a versatile term that navigates the nuances of effort, acquisition, and reception, fitting comfortably into everyday speech but stepping aside for more formal alternatives when needed.