German verbs list
- spielen to play
- essen to eat
- trinken to drink
- schlafen to sleep
- lesen to read
- laufen to run
- gehen to go, walk
- stehen to stand
- sitzen to sit
- springen to jump
- arbeiten to work
- lernen to learn
- helfen to help
- dienen to serve
- reparieren to repair
- studieren to study
- duschen to shower
- baden to bathe
- schwitzen to sweat
- malen to paint
- zeichnen to draw
- fotografieren to photograph
- kochen to cook
- backen to bake
- grillen to grill
- tanzen to dance
- singen to sing
- musizieren to make music
- schwimmen to swim
- tauchen to dive
- reiten to ride (horse)
- joggen to jog
- rennen to run (quickly)
- hüpfen to hop, skip
- fliegen to fly
- fahren to drive, go
- segeln to sail
- radfahren to cycle
- klettern to climb
- angeln to fish
- jagen to hunt
- rudern to row
- wandern to hike
- skateborden to skateboard
- heiraten to marry
- scheiden to divorce
- verlieben sich to fall in love
- sich trennen to break up, separate
- streiten to argue
- sich entschuldigen to apologize
- treffen to meet
- sich treffen to meet (each other)
- sich verabreden to arrange to meet
- feiern to celebrate
Mastering the Top 200 German Verbs
Learning the most commonly used verbs in German is essential for mastering the language. These verbs form the foundation of everyday communication, allowing you to express actions, emotions, and more in German conversation with confidence. This tutorial will guide you through the top 200 German verbs, including their meanings, usage examples, and pronunciation tips.
German Verb |
English Translation |
Pronunciation |
sein |
to be |
zine |
haben |
to have |
hah-ben |
werden |
to become |
vair-den |
können |
can, to be able to |
koe-nen |
müssen |
must, to have to |
mues-sen |
wollen |
to want |
vol-len |
dürfen |
may, to be allowed to |
door-fen |
sagen |
to say |
zah-gen |
machen |
to do, to make |
mah-chen |
geben |
to give |
geh-ben |
kommen |
to come |
kom-men |
sehen |
to see |
zay-en |
lassen |
to let, allow |
lahs-sen |
stehen |
to stand |
shtay-en |
finden |
to find |
fin-den |
bleiben |
to stay, remain |
bly-ben |
liegen |
to lie (down) |
lee-gen |
heißen |
to be called |
hi-sen |
denken |
to think |
den-ken |
nehmen |
to take, to get |
neh-men |
tun |
to do, to act |
toon |
stellen |
to place, set |
shtel-len |
spielen |
to play |
shpee-len |
arbeiten |
to work |
ar-bite-en |
bringen |
to bring |
bring-en |
folgen |
to follow |
fol-gen |
sprechen |
to speak |
shpre-chen |
fahren |
to drive, go |
fah-ren |
tragen |
to carry, wear |
trah-gen |
fragen |
to ask |
frah-gen |
antworten |
to answer |
ant-vor-ten |
beginnen |
to begin, start |
be-gin-nen |
verstehen |
to understand |
fer-shtay-en |
versuchen |
to try, attempt |
fer-soo-chen |
erklären |
to explain |
erk-lair-en |
laufen |
to run |
lou-fen |
setzen |
to set, put |
zet-zen |
bekommen |
to get, receive |
be-kom-men |
suchen |
to search, look for |
zoo-chen |
scheinen |
to shine, seem |
shi-nen |
lesen |
to read |
lay-zen |
fallen |
to fall |
fah-len |
interessieren |
to interest |
in-ter-es-sie-ren |
kaufen |
to buy |
cow-fen |
glauben |
to believe |
glou-ben |
helfen |
to help |
hel-fen |
schlafen |
to sleep |
shlah-fen |
essen |
to eat |
es-sen |
trinken |
to drink |
trin-ken |
gehen |
to go, walk |
geh-en |
wissen |
to know (facts) |
vis-sen |
hören |
to hear |
her-en |
schreiben |
to write |
shry-ben |
fühlen |
to feel |
fue-len |
brauchen |
to need |
brow-chen |
probieren |
to try, taste |
pro-bi-ren |
mögen |
to like, may |
moe-gen |
heiraten |
to marry |
hi-ra-ten |
schwimmen |
to swim |
shvim-men |
tanzen |
to dance |
tan-tsen |
lernen |
to learn |
ler-nen |
kennen |
to know (people) |
ken-nen |
warten |
to wait |
var-ten |
duschen |
to shower |
doo-shen |
verkaufen |
to sell |
fer-kow-fen |
kochen |
to cook |
ko-shen |
backen |
to bake |
bah-ken |
reden |
to talk |
ray-den |
lieben |
to love |
lee-ben |
hassen |
to hate |
hah-sen |
besuchen |
to visit |
be-zoo-chen |
abholen |
to pick up |
ap-ho-len |
umziehen |
to move (residence) |
oom-tsee-en |
umfahren |
to run over, drive around |
oom-fah-ren |
umgeben |
to surround |
oom-geh-ben |
umsteigen |
to change (vehicles) |
oom-shtie-gen |
anrufen |
to call (on the phone) |
ahn-roo-fen |
aufnehmen |
to record, take up |
owf-neh-men |
abfahren |
to depart, leave (by vehicle) |
ap-fah-ren |
abgeben |
to hand in, submit |
ap-geh-ben |
abschließen |
to finish, conclude |
ap-shlee-sen |
ankommen |
to arrive |
ahn-kom-men |
ansehen |
to look at, watch |
ahn-zay-en |
anbieten |
to offer |
ahn-bee-ten |
aufpassen |
to pay attention, watch out |
owf-pah-sen |
aufwachen |
to wake up |
owf-vah-chen |
aufnehmen |
to take in, accept |
owf-neh-men |
aufhören |
to stop, cease |
owf-ho-ren |
German Verbs of Movement
Verbs of movement in German describe how people or things move from one place to another. These verbs are essential for expressing actions related to travel, transportation, and physical movement. This tutorial will explore the verbs of movement in German, providing clear definitions, examples, and pronunciation tips to help beginners understand and use them accurately.
Verbs of Movement in German
Here are some common verbs of movement in German, along with their English translations and pronunciation:
German Verb |
English Translation |
Pronunciation |
gehen |
to go, walk |
geh-en |
fahren |
to drive, go |
fah-ren |
laufen |
to run |
lou-fen |
kommen |
to come |
kom-men |
fliegen |
to fly |
flee-gen |
reisen |
to travel |
rye-sen |
rennen |
to run (quickly) |
ren-nen |
schwimmen |
to swim |
shvim-men |
radfahren |
to cycle |
raht-fah-ren |
segeln |
to sail |
zay-geln |
spazieren gehen |
to take a walk |
shpa-tsee-ren geh-en |
Best way to learn German verbs
Learning German verbs effectively is crucial for anyone starting their language journey. Verbs are the backbone of sentence construction and communication in German. This tutorial focuses on the best methods to learn German verbs, providing clear guidance, examples, and pronunciation tips to help beginners grasp these essential elements of the language quickly.
Methods to Learn German Verbs
Here are effective methods and resources to learn German verbs:
- Study Commonly Used Verbs Begin by focusing on the most frequently used German verbs. These verbs form the foundation of everyday conversations and will give you a solid base for further learning.
- Practice with Exercises Use exercises and drills specifically designed for learning German verbs. Practice conjugating verbs in different tenses (present, past, future) and in various contexts. This active practice helps reinforce your understanding and usage of verbs in sentences.
- Use Flashcards Create or use digital flashcards to memorize German verbs and their meanings. Flashcards are effective for quick recall and can be used anywhere, making them a convenient study tool. Include pronunciation on the cards to reinforce correct speaking habits.
- Engage with Language Apps Language learning apps offer interactive exercises and quizzes focused on verbs. Apps like Duolingo, Babbel, and Memrise provide structured lessons that gradually introduce and reinforce verbs in German, making learning engaging and systematic.
- Read and Listen in Context Expose yourself to German texts, articles, and audio materials that use verbs in natural contexts. Reading and listening to native speakers helps you understand how verbs are used in everyday speech and improves your overall comprehension.
- Practice Speaking Regularly practice speaking German aloud, incorporating verbs into your sentences. Conversational practice helps you internalize verb conjugations and usage naturally, improving your fluency over time.
- Seek Language Partners or Classes Join language exchange programs or attend German classes where you can practice verbs with native speakers or fellow learners. Interaction with others provides valuable feedback and motivates you to use verbs confidently.
- Review and Reinforce Consistently review previously learned verbs and regularly incorporate them into your language practice. Repetition is key to mastering German verbs and maintaining your proficiency.