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501 German Verbs,
by Henry Strutz
Full conjugations of
multiple tenses for
501 German verbs.
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info - Buy
Historically speaking, strong
verbs represent the oldest
verbs in the German language.
They developed already
in Indo-European times
(4000-1000 BC). Weak verbs
are a newer invention. They
appeared in the Germanic
languages by 500 BC.
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501 German Verbs,
by Henry Strutz
Full conjugations of
multiple tenses for
501 German verbs.
More
info - Buy
Hammer's German
Grammar and Usage,
4th ed., by Martin Durrell,
The most authoritative
German grammar reference
written in English.
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Harper-Collins
German-English
Unabridged Dictionary,
5th ed. (2004). One of the
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dictionaries on the market.
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German-English
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German verbs
List of strong & irregular verbs
About strong & irregular verbs
The strong verbs in German are characterized by unpredictable changes
in their roots to demonstrate verb tense. These stem changes occur
particularly in the past tense forms, but in some instances, present
tense forms are also affected. Knowing what these root changes are
is critical to proper usage of the strong verbs. Once you know these
forms, you can easily conjugate strong verbs in any verb tense.
Irregular German verbs have various sorts of changes within their
roots. In addition, they sometimes have anomalous conjugations that
are wholly unpredictable.
The list below contains a comprehensive list of all strong and irregular
verbs in the German language, except for a few archaic forms that are
really no longer used or for which a preferred alternative weak conjugation
has arisen. Note that other verbs may be formed from these roots using
prefixes; nonetheless, these stem changes will remain the same for all
derived verbs, unless otherwise noted.
List of strong & irregular German
verbs
| Infinitive form |
Present tense
stem change, if any
(3rd pers. sing.) |
Simple past tense
(3rd pers. sing.)
|
Helping verb +
Past participle |
Definition |
|
| backen |
bäckt or backt |
backte or buk |
hat gebacken |
to bake |
| befehlen |
befiehlt |
befahl |
hat befohlen |
to command |
| |
Note: fehlen, to be
missing or lacking, is conjugated as a weak verb. |
| beginnen |
- |
begann |
hat begonnen |
to begin |
| beißen |
- |
biss |
hat gebissen |
to bite |
| bergen |
birgt |
barg |
hat geborgen |
to salvage |
| bersten |
birst or berstet |
barst |
hat geborsten |
to burst |
| bewegen |
- |
bewog |
hat bewogen |
to induce |
| |
Note: When bewegen means
to move, it is conjugated as a weak verb. |
| biegen |
- |
bog |
hat/ist gebogen |
to bend, turn |
| bieten |
- |
bot |
hat geboten |
to offer |
| binden |
- |
band |
hat gebunden |
to bind, tie |
| bitten |
- |
bat |
hat gebeten |
to ask, request |
| blasen |
bläst |
blies |
hat geblasen |
to blow |
| bleiben |
- |
blieb |
ist geblieben |
to stay |
| braten |
brät |
briet |
hat gebraten |
to fry |
| brechen |
bricht |
brach |
ist/hat gebrochen |
to break |
| brennen (mixed) |
- |
brannte |
hat gebrannt |
to burn |
| bringen (mixed) |
- |
brachte |
hat gebracht |
to bring |
| denken (mixed) |
- |
dachte |
hat gedacht |
to think |
| dreschen |
drischt |
drosch |
hat gedroschen |
to thresh |
| dringen |
- |
drang |
ist/hat gedrungen |
to persist |
| dürfen (modal) |
darf |
durfte |
hat gedurft |
may, to be allowed |
| empfehlen |
empfiehlt |
empfahl |
hat empfohlen |
to recommend |
| erkiesen (rare) |
- |
erkor |
hat erkoren |
to choose, elect |
| erklimmen (elevated) |
- |
erklomm |
hat erklommen |
to scale (climb) |
| erlöschen |
erlischt |
erlosch |
ist erloschen |
to go out (of light) |
| |
Note: When erlöschen
is transitive, to extinguish, it is conjugated as a weak
verb. |
| erschrecken |
erschrickt |
erschrak |
ist erschrocken |
to be startled |
| |
Note: When erschrecken
is transitive, to frighten, it is conjugated as a weak
verb. |
| essen |
isst |
aß |
hat gegessen |
to eat |
| fahren |
fährt |
fuhr |
ist/hat gefahren |
to drive, go |
| fallen |
fällt |
fiel |
ist gefallen |
to fall |
| fangen |
fängt |
fing |
hat gefangen |
to catch |
| fechten |
ficht |
focht |
hat gefochten |
to fight, fence |
| finden |
- |
fand |
hat gefunden |
to find |
| flechten |
flicht |
flocht |
hat geflochten |
to braid, plait |
| fliegen |
- |
flog |
ist/hat geflogen |
to fly |
| fliehen |
- |
floh |
ist geflohen |
to flee |
| fließen |
- |
floß |
ist geflossen |
to flow |
| fressen |
frisst |
fraß |
hat gefressen |
to eat (of animals) |
| frieren |
- |
fror |
ist/hat gefroren |
to freeze |
| Infinitive form |
Present tense
stem change, if any
(3rd pers. sing.) |
Simple past tense
(3rd pers. sing.)
|
Past participle |
Definition |
|
| gären |
- |
gärte or gor |
ist/hat gegärt or gegoren |
to ferment |
| |
Note: Literal usage normally applies
the strong forms, figurative usage the weak forms. |
| gebären |
gebärt or gebiert |
gebar |
hat geboren |
to give birth |
| geben |
gibt |
gab |
hat gegeben |
to give |
| gedeihen |
- |
gedieh |
ist gediehen |
to thrive |
| gehen |
- |
ging |
ist gegangen |
to walk, go |
| gelingen |
- |
gelang |
ist gelungen |
to succeed |
| gelten |
gilt |
galt |
hat gegolten |
to count, be worth |
| genesen |
- |
genas |
ist genesen |
to recover |
| genießen |
- |
genoss |
hat genossen |
to enjoy |
| geschehen |
geschieht |
geschah |
ist geschehen |
to occur |
| gewinnen |
- |
gewann |
hat gewonnen |
to win, gain |
| gießen |
- |
goss |
hat gegossen |
to pour |
| gleichen |
- |
glich |
hat geglichen |
to resemble |
| gleiten |
- |
glitt |
ist geglitten |
to glide, slide |
| |
Note: The verb begleiten,
to accompany, has weak verb conjugation. |
| glimmen (elevated) |
- |
glomm |
hat geglommen |
to smoulder |
| graben |
gräbt |
grub |
hat gegraben |
to dig |
| greifen |
- |
griff |
hat gegriffen |
to seize |
| haben (irreg.) |
hat |
hatte |
hat gehabt |
to have |
| halten |
hält |
hielt |
hat gehalten |
to hold |
| |
Note: The verb beinhalten,
to comprise, has weak verb conjugation. |
| hängen |
- |
hing |
hat gehangen |
to be hanging |
| hauen |
- |
hieb |
hat gehauen |
to hit |
| |
Note: hauen may also be
conjugated as a weak verb. There is no difference in meaning. |
| heben |
- |
hob |
hat gehoben |
to lift |
| heißen |
- |
hieß |
hat geheißen |
to be called |
| helfen |
hilft |
half |
hat geholfen |
to help |
| kennen (mixed) |
- |
kannte |
hat gekannt |
to know |
| klingen |
- |
klang |
hat geklungen |
to sound |
| kneifen |
- |
kniff |
hat gekniffen |
to pinch |
| kommen |
- |
kam |
ist gekommen |
to come |
| können (modal) |
kann |
konnte |
hat gekonnt |
can, to be able to |
| kriechen |
- |
kroch |
ist gekrochen |
to crawl, creep |
| laden |
lädt |
lud |
hat geladen |
to load |
| lassen |
lässt |
ließ |
hat gelassen |
to let |
| laufen |
läuft |
lief |
ist/hat gelaufen |
to run |
| leiden |
- |
litt |
hat gelitten |
to suffer |
| |
Note: The verb verleiden,
to spoil, is conjugated as a weak verb. |
| leihen |
- |
lieh |
hat geliehen |
to lend |
| lesen |
liest |
las |
hat gelesen |
to read |
| liegen |
- |
lag |
hat gelegen |
to lie, be lying |
| lügen |
- |
log |
gelogen |
to (tell a) lie |
| Infinitive form |
Present tense
stem change, if any
(3rd pers. sing.) |
Simple past tense
(3rd pers. sing.)
|
Past participle |
Definition |
|
| mahlen |
- |
mahlte |
hat gemahlen |
to grind |
| meiden |
- |
mied |
hat gemieden |
to avoid |
| melken |
milkt or melkt |
melkte |
hat gemolken |
to milk |
| |
Note: In some regions, molk
is the preferred simple past form, and gemelkt can be
heard as past participle. |
| messen |
misst |
maß |
hat gemessen |
to measure |
| misslingen |
- |
misslang |
ist misslungen |
to fail |
| mögen (modal) |
mag |
mochte |
hat gemocht |
to like |
| müssen (modal) |
muss |
musste |
hat gemusst |
must, to have to |
| nehmen |
nimmt |
nahm |
hat genommen |
to take |
| nennen (mixed) |
- |
nannte |
hat genannt |
to name, call |
| pfeifen |
- |
pfiff |
hat gepfiffen |
to whistle |
| preisen |
- |
pries |
hat gepriesen |
to praise |
| quellen |
quillt |
quoll |
ist gequollen |
to gush, well up |
| raten |
rät |
riet |
hat geraten |
to advise |
| reiben |
- |
rieb |
hat gerieben |
to rub |
| reißen |
- |
riss |
ist/hat gerissen |
to rip, tear |
| reiten |
- |
ritt |
ist/hat geritten |
to ride (a horse) |
| rennen (mixed) |
- |
rannte |
ist/hat gerannt |
to run |
| riechen |
- |
roch |
hat gerochen |
to smell |
| ringen |
- |
rang |
hat gerungen |
to wrestle |
| rinnen |
- |
rann |
ist geronnen |
to flow, trickle |
| rufen |
- |
rief |
hat gerufen |
to call, cry out |
| salzen |
- |
salzte |
hat gesalzen |
to salt |
| saufen |
säuft |
soff |
hat gesoffen |
to drink, booze |
| saugen |
- |
sog |
hat gesogen |
to suck |
| |
Note: The weak conjugation of
saugen is equally frequent. |
| schaffen |
- |
schuf |
hat geschaffen |
to create |
| |
Note: When conjugated as a weak
verb, schaffen means to manage, work. |
| scheiden |
- |
schied |
ist/hat geschieden |
to separate, depart |
| scheinen |
- |
schien |
hat geschienen |
to seem, shine |
| scheißen |
- |
schiss |
hat geschissen |
to sh*t (vulgar) |
| schelten |
schilt |
schalt |
hat gescholten |
to scold |
| scheren |
- |
schor |
hat geschoren |
to shear, clip |
| |
Note: When conjugated as a weak
verb, scheren means to concern. |
| schieben |
- |
schob |
hat geschoben |
to push, shove |
| schießen |
- |
schoss |
ist/hat geschossen |
to shoot |
| schinden |
- |
schindete |
hat geschunden |
to flay |
| schlafen |
schläft |
schlief |
hat geschlafen |
to sleep |
| schlagen |
schlägt |
schlug |
hat geschlagen |
to hit, beat |
| schleichen |
- |
schlich |
ist geschlichen |
to creep, sneak |
| schleifen |
- |
schliff |
hat geschliffen |
to grind, sharpen |
| |
Note: When conjugated as a weak
verb, schleifen means to drag. |
| schließen |
- |
schloss |
hat geschlossen |
to close, shut |
| schlingen |
- |
schlang |
hat geschlungen |
to wind, wrap |
| schmeißen |
- |
schmiss |
hat geschmissen |
to fling, chuck |
| schmelzen |
schmilzt |
schmolz |
ist/hat geschmolzen |
to melt |
| Infinitive form |
Present tense
stem change, if any
(3rd pers. sing.) |
Simple past tense
(3rd pers. sing.)
|
Past participle |
Definition |
|
| schneiden |
- |
schnitt |
hat geschnitten |
to cut |
| schreiben |
- |
schrieb |
hat geschrieben |
to write |
| schreien |
- |
schrie |
hat geschrien |
to scream, shout |
| schreiten |
- |
schritt |
ist geschritten |
to stride |
| schweigen |
- |
schwieg |
hat geschwiegen |
to be silent |
| schwellen |
schwillt |
schwoll |
ist geschwollen |
to swell |
| schwimmen |
- |
schwamm |
ist/hat geschwommen |
to swim |
| schwinden |
- |
schwand |
ist geschwunden |
to disappear |
| schwingen |
- |
schwang |
hat geschwungen |
to swing |
| schwören |
- |
schwor |
hat geschworen |
to swear |
| sehen |
sieht |
sah |
hat gesehen |
to see |
| sein (irreg.) |
ist |
war |
ist gewesen |
to be |
| senden (mixed) |
- |
sandte |
hat gesandt |
to send |
| |
Note: When conjugated as a weak
verb, senden means to broadcast. |
| sieden (formal) |
- |
siedete or sott |
hat gesotten |
to boil |
| singen |
- |
sang |
hat gesungen |
to sing |
| sinken |
- |
sank |
ist gesunken |
to sink |
| sinnen |
- |
sann |
hat gesonnen |
to meditate |
| sitzen |
- |
saß |
hat gesessen |
to sit, be sitting |
| sollen (modal) |
soll |
sollte |
hat gesollt |
shall, to be supposed to |
| spalten |
- |
spaltete |
hat gespalten/
gespaltet |
to split, cleave |
| speien |
- |
spie |
hat gespien |
to spit |
| spinnen |
- |
spann |
hat gesponnen |
to spin; be stupid |
| sprechen |
spricht |
sprach |
hat gesprochen |
to speak |
| sprießen |
- |
sproß |
ist gesprossen |
to sprout |
| springen |
- |
sprang |
ist gesprungen |
to jump |
| stechen |
sticht |
stach |
hat gestochen |
to prick, sting |
| stehen |
- |
stand |
hat gestanden |
to stand |
| stehlen |
stiehlt |
stahl |
hat gestohlen |
to steal |
| steigen |
- |
stieg |
ist gestiegen |
to climb |
| sterben |
stirbt |
starb |
ist gestorben |
to die |
| stinken |
- |
stank |
hat gestunken |
to stink |
| stoßen |
stößt |
stieß |
ist/hat gestoßen |
to bump, push |
| streichen |
- |
strich |
ist/hat gestrichen |
to stroke |
| streiten |
- |
stritt |
hat gestritten |
to quarrel |
| Infinitive form |
Present tense
stem change, if any
(3rd pers. sing.) |
Simple past tense
(3rd pers. sing.)
|
Past participle |
Definition |
|
| tragen |
trägt |
trug |
hat getragen |
to wear, carry |
| |
Note: The verbs beauftragen
and beantragen have weak verb conjugations. |
| treffen |
trifft |
traf |
hat getroffen |
to meet |
| treiben |
- |
trieb |
ist/hat getrieben |
to drive, drift |
| treten |
- |
tritt |
ist/hat getreten |
to step |
| trinken |
- |
trank |
hat getrunken |
to drink |
| trügen |
- |
trog |
hat getrogen |
to deceive |
| tun |
- |
tat |
hat getan |
to do |
| verderben |
verdirbt |
verdarb |
ist/hat verdorben |
to ruin |
| verdrießen |
- |
verdross |
hat verdrossen |
to vex |
| vergessen |
vergisst |
vergaß |
hat vergessen |
to forget |
| verlieren |
- |
verlor |
hat verloren |
to lose |
| verzeihen |
- |
verzieh |
hat verziehen |
to excuse |
| wachsen |
wächst |
wuchs |
ist gewachsen |
to grow |
| wägen |
- |
wog |
hat gewogen |
to weigh |
| waschen |
wäscht |
wusch |
hat gewaschen |
to wash |
| weichen |
- |
wich |
ist gewichen |
to yield, give way |
| |
Note: The weak verb weichen
means to soften. |
| weisen |
- |
wies |
hat gewiesen |
to point |
| wenden (mixed) |
- |
wandte |
hat gewandt |
to turn |
| |
Note: wenden may be conjugated
as a weak verb, especially to mean to turn over, turn around. |
| werben |
wirbt |
warb |
hat geworben |
to advertise, recruit |
| werden (irreg.) |
wird |
wurde |
ist geworden |
to become |
| werfen |
wirft |
warf |
hat geworfen |
to throw |
| wiegen |
- |
wog |
hat gewogen |
to weigh |
| |
Note: The weak verb wiegen
means to rock, sway. |
| winden |
- |
wand |
hat gewunden |
to wind |
| wissen (mixed/irreg.) |
weiß |
wusste |
hat gewusst |
to know |
| wollen (modal) |
will |
wollte |
hat gewollt |
to want |
| wringen |
- |
wrang |
hat gewrungen |
to wring |
| ziehen |
- |
zog |
ist/hat gezogen |
to pull; move |
| zwingen |
- |
zwang |
hat gezwungen |
to force |
Books consulted:
Hammer's
German Grammar and Usage, 2nd ed., by A.E. Hammer, revised
by Martin Durrell, 544 p. (1983)
Using
German, 2nd ed., by Martin Durrell, 319 p. (2003)
Die deutsche Grammatik klar gemacht, 2nd ed., by Karl Otto,
Wolff von Schmidt, et al., 47 p. (2004)
The
infinitive | The past
participle | The present
participle | Weak verbs
| Strong verbs |
Mixed verbs
Dative verbs | Genitive
verbs | Verb + preposition
idioms
For more German verbs topics, see the
GERMAN GRAMMAR INDEX
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