Core verbs · German

The 100 most common verbs. 61 German words, A1 through C2, with translations and example sentences.

A1

anfangenverb

to start

Shall we start without him?

antwortenverb

to answer

Please answer by Friday.

arbeitenverb

to work

She works in an office.

beginnenverb

to begin

The lesson is about to begin.

bekommenverb

to get / to receive

I get a lot of emails every day.

bleibenverb

to stay

We will stay another hour.

brauchenverb

to need

We need more chairs.

bringenverb

to bring

Please bring me a glass of water.

denkenverb

to think

I often think of you.

dürfenverb

may / to be allowed

May I smoke here?

essenverb

to eat

We eat at eight.

fahrenverb

to drive / go (by vehicle)

We are driving to Munich.

findenverb

to find

I can’t find my key.

fragenverb

to ask

May I ask you something?

gebenverb

to give

Please give me the book.

gehenverb

to go

I'm going home.

habenverb

to have

We have time.

holenverb

to fetch

I pick the children up from school.

hörenverb

to hear / listen

I like listening to music.

kaufenverb

to buy

I'm buying bread.

kennenverb

to know (be familiar)

Do you know this man?

kommenverb

to come

Are you coming along?

könnenverb

can / to be able to

I can swim well.

lebenverb

to live

My grandparents live in the countryside.

lernenverb

to learn

We are learning German.

lesenverb

to read

I'm reading a book.

liegenverb

to lie

The glasses are lying on the shelf.

machenverb

to do / make

What are you doing today?

müssenverb

must / to have to

I have to go now.

nehmenverb

to take

I take the bus.

öffnenverb

to open

Please open the window.

sagenverb

to say

What do you say to that?

schlafenverb

to sleep

The baby is sleeping now.

schließenverb

to close

Please close the window, there’s a draft.

schreibenverb

to write

He is writing a letter.

sehenverb

to see

I'll see you tomorrow.

seinverb

to be

I want to be happy.

sitzenverb

to sit

We are sitting by the window.

sollenverb

should / ought to

What should I do?

spielenverb

to play

The children play in the park.

sprechenverb

to speak

Do you speak German?

stehenverb

to stand

The taxi is standing at the door.

suchenverb

to search

We are looking for a babysitter.

trinkenverb

to drink

I like to drink tea.

tunverb

to do

What can I do for you?

vergessenverb

to forget

I forgot his name.

wartenverb

to wait

Wait for me a moment!

werdenverb

to become

It is slowly getting dark.

wissenverb

to know (a fact)

I don't know the answer.

wohnenverb

to live (reside)

I live in Berlin.

wollenverb

to want

I want to learn German.

zeigenverb

to show

Show me your new room.

A2Premium

ändernverb

to change

I would like to change my booking.

aufhörenverb

to stop

Stop laughing!

endenverb

to end

The course ends in June.

erinnernverb

to remind / to remember

Please remind me of the appointment.

erzählenverb

to tell

Grandma is telling a story.

glaubenverb

to believe

I believe you.

meinenverb

to mean / to think

I mean the other hotel.

schaffenverb

to manage

We can still make the train.

versuchenverb

to try

Try it again.

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