Translation guide
The English word 'fell' can be a verb meaning to cut down a tree or knock someone down, or an adjective meaning fierce or cruel. This guide covers the main uses an English-speaking learner might need.
To cut down a tree, especially in forestry or logging contexts.
The standard verb for felling trees, used in forestry and formal contexts.
To cause a person to fall to the ground, often in a fight or accident.
General verb for knocking someone down or defeating them.
Describing something as fierce, cruel, or deadly, often in literary or old-fashioned English.
Means ferocious or fierce, used for animals or people.
The past tense of 'fall' is 'fell', but this entry is about the verb 'to fell' (cut down) and the adjective 'fell' (fierce). Be careful not to mix them up.
The company obtained permission to fell the forest.
Literally 'cut and knock down', a more vivid and common verb for felling a tree.
He felled the tree with an axe.
The boxer felled his opponent with one punch.
Specifically to knock someone down by punching.
He felled the thug with a punch.
A fell beast attacked the village.
Means cruel or brutal, fitting the 'cruel' sense of 'fell'.
He defeated his enemies in a fell manner.
Means dreadful or terrible, can be used in literary contexts for 'fell'.
A fell fate awaited him.