100 most common German verbs
Common German Verbs for Beginners
Understanding common German verbs is crucial for building a strong foundation in the language. This tutorial lists essential German verbs along with their English translations. Use this guide to enhance your vocabulary and improve your language skills.
Key German Verbs and Their English Translations
Below is a comprehensive list of frequently used German verbs with their English equivalents. This table is organized alphabetically in German for easy reference.
- anbieten (to) offer
- ändern (to) change
- anfangen (to) begin
- ansehen (to) look at
- antworten (to) answer, reply
- arbeiten (to) work
- aussehen (to) look, appear
- bedeuten (to) mean
- beginnen (to) begin, start
- bekommen (to) get
- bestellen (to) order
- besuchen (to) visit
- betreffen (to) concern, affect
- bieten (to) offer
- bilden (to) form, shape
- bleiben (to) stay
- brauchen (to) need
- bringen (to) bring
- danken (to) thank
- denken (to) think
- dürfen (to) be allowed to
- entwickeln (to) develop
- ergeben (to) yield, result in
- erinnern (to) recall, remember
- erkennen (to) recognize, detect
- erklären (to) explain
- erreichen (to) reach
- erscheinen (to) appear
- erwarten (to) expect, await
- essen (to) eat
- fahren (to) drive
- finden (to) find
- folgen (to) follow
- fragen (to) ask, question
- fühlen (to) feel
- führen (to) lead
- geben (to) give
- gehen (to) go
- gehören (to) belong
- gewinnen (to) win
- glauben (to) believe
- haben (to) have
- halten (to) hold
- handeln (to) act, trade
- heißen (to) be called
- helfen (to) help
- hören (to) hear, listen
- interessieren (to) interest
- kaufen (to) buy
- kennen (to) know
- kommen (to) come
- können (to) be able to
- lachen (to) laugh
- lassen (to) let
- laufen (to) run
- leben (to) live
- legen (to) lay, put down
- lernen (to) learn
- lesen (to) read
- lieben (to) love
- liegen (to) lie (down)
- machen (to) make, do
- meinen (to) mean
- mögen (to) like
- müssen (to) have to
- nehmen (to) take
- nennen (to) call, name, mention
- öffnen (to) open
- reden (to) talk
- reisen (to) travel
- rennen (to) run
- riechen (to) smell
- sagen (to) say
- schaffen (to) create, achieve
- scheinen (to) seem, shine
- schlafen (to) sleep
- schließen (to) close
- schmecken (to) taste
- schreiben (to) write
- sehen (to) see
- sein (to) be
- senden (to) send
- setzen (to) sit down, put down
- singen (to) sing
- sitzen (to) sit
- sollen (to) be supposed to, ought
- spielen (to) play
- sprechen (to) speak
- stehen (to) stand
- stellen (to) put
- studieren (to) study
- suchen (to) search, look for
- teilen (to) divide, share
- tragen (to) carry, wear
- treffen (to) meet, encounter
- trinken (to) drink
- tun (to) do
- verbinden (to) connect
- verlassen (to) leave
- verlieren (to) lose
- verstehen (to) understand
- versuchen (to) try, attempt
- verwenden (to) use
- warten (to) wait
- werden (to) become, will
- wissen (to) know
- wohnen (to) live, reside
- wollen (to) want
- zählen (to) count
- zeigen (to) show, demonstrate
- ziehen (to) pull
Learning Common German Verbs
Verbs are essential in any language, allowing us to describe actions, states, and feelings. In German, mastering common verbs is key to effective communication. This tutorial will help you learn the most frequently used German verbs, organized alphabetically for easy reference.
Präteritum German verbs list
Here is a list of commonly used German verbs along with their English translations. This will provide you with a solid foundation to begin constructing sentences and expressing yourself in German.
| German Verb |
English |
| darstellen |
(to) represent, depict |
| deaktivieren |
(to) deactivate |
| decken |
(to) cover |
| definieren |
(to) define |
| durchmessen |
(to) measure |
| dürfen |
(to) be allowed to |
| echoen |
(to) echo |
| einen |
(to) unify |
| einfügen |
(to) insert |
| eingeben |
(to) enter (data) |
| eingehen |
(to) enter, go into |
| einigen |
(to) agree |
| einrichten |
(to) set up |
| einschliessen |
(to) include |
| entstehen |
(to) arise, develop |
| entwickeln |
(to) develop |
| erfahren |
(to) experience |
| erfassen |
(to) capture, record |
| erfolgen |
(to) take place |
| glauben |
(to) believe |
| gleichen |
(to) resemble |
| globalisieren |
(to) globalize |
| grenzen |
(to) border |
| gründen |
(to) establish |
| haben |
(to) have |
| haken |
(to) hook |
| halten |
(to) hold |
| handeln |
(to) act, trade |
| erfordern |
(to) require |
| erfüllen |
(to) fulfill |
| ergeben |
(to) yield, result in |
| ergreifen |
(to) seize |
| erhalten |
(to) receive, obtain |
| erheben |
(to) raise, lift |
| bearbeiten |
(to) edit, process |
| bedenken |
(to) consider |
| bedeuten |
(to) mean |
| beeinflussen |
(to) influence |
| bekämpfen |
(to) fight |
| bekommen |
(to) get, receive |
| bemühen |
(to) strive, endeavor |
| benötigen |
(to) need |
| benutzen |
(to) use |
| beobachten |
(to) observe |
| berechnen |
(to) calculate |
| bereitstellen |
(to) provide |
| berichten |
(to) report |
| berücksichtigen |
(to) consider |
| beruhen |
(to) be based on |
| abkommen |
(to) come off, deviate |
| abrufen |
(to) retrieve |
| aktivieren |
(to) activate |
| aktualisieren |
(to) update |
| akzeptieren |
(to) accept |
| verbinden |
(to) connect |
| verbrechen |
(to) commit a crime |
| verbringen |
(to) spend (time) |
| verlangen |
(to) demand |
| verleihen |
(to) lend, award |
| verlieren |
(to) lose |
| versprechen |
(to) promise |
| verstärken |
(to) strengthen |
| verstecken |
(to) hide |
| verstehen |
(to) understand |
| versuchen |
(to) try |
| identifizieren |
(to) identify |
| importieren |
(to) import |
| informieren |
(to) inform |
| installieren |
(to) install |
| investieren |
(to) invest |
| jungen |
(to) have young |
| kämpfen |
(to) fight |
| kopieren |
(to) copy |
| korrigieren |
(to) correct |
| kosten |
(to) cost |
| kriegen |
(to) get |
| krümeln |
(to) crumble |
| kümmern |
(to) care |
| lachen |
(to) laugh |
| laden |
(to) load |
| landen |
(to) land |
| langen |
(to) reach |
| lassen |
(to) let, allow |
| lasten |
(to) burden |
| liegen |
(to) lie down |
| linken |
(to) link |
| listen |
(to) list |
| lodern |
(to) blaze |
| löschen |
(to) delete, extinguish |
| lösen |
(to) solve |
| machen |
(to) make, do |
| markieren |
(to) mark |
| meinen |
(to) mean |
| meistern |
(to) master |
| melden |
(to) report |
| mengen |
(to) mix |
| messen |
(to) measure |
| mitteilen |
(to) inform |
| mögen |
(to) like |
| mosern |
(to) grumble |
| müssen |
(to) have to |
| navigieren |
(to) navigate |
| nehmen |
(to) take |
| nennen |
(to) call, name |
| normen |
(to) standardize |
| nutzen |
(to) use |
| öffnen |
(to) open |
| proben |
(to) rehearse |
| profitieren |
(to) profit |
| prüfen |
(to) check, examine |
| punkten |
(to) score |
| qualifizieren |
(to) qualify |
| quellen |
(to) swell |
| rahmen |
(to) frame |
| reagieren |
(to) react |
| rechnen |
(to) calculate |
| rechten |
(to) align |
| rinnen |
(to) run, flow |
| rollen |
(to) roll |
| rücken |
(to) move |
| rufen |
(to) call |
| sagen |
(to) say |
| sammeln |
(to) collect |
| saufen |
(to) drink (alcohol) |
| schaden |
(to) harm |
| schaffen |
(to) create, accomplish |
| schalten |
(to) switch |
| schatten |
(to) shadow |
| schätzen |
(to) estimate |
| schauen |
(to) look |
| scheiden |
(to) separate |
| schneiden |
(to) cut |
| schnellen |
(to) spring |
| schönen |
(to) beautify |
| schreiben |
(to) write |
| schreiten |
(to) stride |
| schulden |
(to) owe |
| schützen |
(to) protect |
| schwellen |
(to) swell |
| sollen |
(to) should |
| sondern |
(to) separate |
| sorgen |
(to) care for |
| spalten |
(to) split |
| sparen |
(to) save |
| speichern |
(to) store |
| spielen |
(to) play |
| sprechen |
(to) speak |
| spuren |
(to) track |
| stammen |
(to) come from |
| stürzen |
(to) fall |
| stützen |
(to) support |
| suchen |
(to) search |
| tagen |
(to) meet |
| tanzen |
(to) dance |
| treten |
(to) step |
| trinken |
(to) drink |
| tun |
(to) do |
| übereinkommen |
(to) agree |
| überfragen |
(to) over-question |
| überleben |
(to) survive |
| überlegen |
(to) consider |
| überliegen |
(to) lie over |
| übermitteln |
(to) transmit |
| übernehmen |
(to) take over |
| saufen |
(to) drink (alcohol) |
| schaden |
(to) harm |
| schaffen |
(to) create, accomplish |
| schalten |
(to) switch |
| schatten |
(to) shadow |
| schätzen |
(to) estimate |
| schauen |
(to) look |
| scheiden |
(to) separate |
| schneiden |
(to) cut |
| schnellen |
(to) spring |
| rechnen |
(to) calculate |
| rechten |
(to) align |
| rinnen |
(to) run, flow |
| rollen |
(to) roll |
| rücken |
(to) move |
| rufen |
(to) call |
| meistern |
(to) master |
| melden |
(to) report |
| mengen |
(to) mix |
| messen |
(to) measure |
| mitteilen |
(to) inform |
| mögen |
(to) like |
| mosern |
(to) grumble |
| landen |
(to) land |
| langen |
(to) reach |
| lassen |
(to) let, allow |
| lasten |
(to) burden |
| liegen |
(to) lie down |
| linken |
(to) link |
| identifizieren |
(to) identify |
| importieren |
(to) import |
| informieren |
(to) inform |
| installieren |
(to) install |
| investieren |
(to) invest |
| jungen |
(to) have young |
| kämpfen |
(to) fight |
| kopieren |
(to) copy |
| korrigieren |
(to) correct |
Irregular verbs in German
In the German language, verbs can be categorized into regular and irregular verbs. Irregular verbs, also known as strong verbs, do not follow the standard conjugation patterns that regular verbs do. This tutorial will explain what makes a verb irregular and provide tips on how to learn and use these verbs effectively.
What Are Irregular Verbs?
Irregular verbs deviate from the regular conjugation rules in German. While regular verbs have predictable changes when conjugated for tense, mood, and person, irregular verbs have unique and often unpredictable alterations. These variations arise from historical and phonological factors, and they can affect multiple tenses, including the simple past, past participle, and other forms.
Characteristics of Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs do not adhere to the typical endings associated with regular verbs. For example, the verb "sein" (to be) does not follow the standard conjugation rules and has unique forms in different tenses and persons.
Examples of Irregular Verbs
Here are some common irregular verbs in German:
| German Verb |
English Translation |
Present Tense (1st Person Singular) |
Simple Past |
Past Participle |
| sein |
to be |
bin |
war |
gewesen |
| haben |
to have |
habe |
hatte |
gehabt |
| werden |
to become |
werde |
wurde |
geworden |
How to Learn Irregular Verbs
Memorization
To use irregular verbs correctly, it's essential to memorize their specific conjugation forms for different tenses and persons. This involves learning each form individually, as these verbs do not follow a consistent pattern. Regular practice and usage in sentences can help solidify your understanding of irregular verbs. Here’s an example with the verb "sein" (to be):
| Person |
Present Tense |
Example Sentence |
| Ich (I) |
bin |
Ich bin glücklich. (I am happy.) |
| Du (You) |
bist |
Du bist klug. (You are smart.) |
| Er/Sie/Es (He/She/It) |
ist |
Er ist hier. (He is here.) |
| Wir (We) |
sind |
Wir sind müde. (We are tired.) |
| Ihr (You all) |
seid |
Ihr seid bereit. (You all are ready.) |
| Sie (They) |
sind |
Sie sind Lehrer. (They are teachers.) |
