verb

begat

bee-GAT

Begat (verb) means an old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence. Example: “The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations.”

verb

An old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence.

"The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations."

How to use begat

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn archaic way of saying "fathered" or "gave rise to," mostly known from old Biblical language.

When to use it

Archaic — used today mainly in jokes, parody, or direct quotation of old texts.

Word forms

begatted past tense, begats plural, begats singular

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The Bible famously lists who _____ whom across many generations.

Frequently asked questions

What does “begat” mean?

The word “begat” means an old-fashioned past tense of "beget," meaning to father a child or bring something into existence. In plain terms, an archaic way of saying "fathered" or "gave rise to," mostly known from old Biblical language.

How do you pronounce “begat”?

“Begat” is pronounced bee-GAT (/biˈɡæt/ in IPA).

How do you use “begat” in a sentence?

Here is “begat” used in a sentence: “The Bible famously lists who begat whom across many generations.”

What part of speech is “begat”?

“Begat” is a verb.