40 German Verbs – Beginner Level

40 German Verbs – Beginner Level

German verbs can feel complicated, but the best way to start is by starting!

To begin your German-learning journey, we’ve prepared this list of common German verbs. For each verb, we’ll provide the translation and an example sentence. We’ve also grouped up some of these verbs so they’re easier to remember.

These verbs will serve as a base that you can later build on with some basic understanding of German conjugation. For today, let’s focus on learning something new and then build from there.

If you need more help in order to write German sentences, you can check how to Build a Sentence in German and learn the most common German verbs and words. 

German Auxiliary Verbs

The most common verbs in German are the auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs can be the main verb in the sentence, but they’re also used to form tenses (past, present, future), as well as the passive voice. So in terms of frequency, these are the ones you’ll want to remember:

• Sein – to be: Ich bin Amerikaner – I am American
• Haben – to have: Ich habe eine Katze – I have one cat
• Werden – to become: Sie möchten besser werden – They want to become better

 

German Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are the next most important group of verbs to learn. These German verbs express possibility, permission, desire, prohibition, or obligation.

• Können – can: Ich kann einen Kuchen backen – I can bake a cake
• Müssen – have to / need to: Sie müssen hier kommen – They have to come here
• Wollen – want / wish for: Willst du Fahrrad fahren? – Want to ride a bike?
• Sollen – supposed to / ought to / be expected to: Ich sollte zu Hause sein – I’m supposed to be home
• Möchten – would like: Möchten Sie Kaffee trinken? – Would you like to drink coffee? Ich möchte einen Kaffee – I would like a coffee

 

German Verbs for Movement

• Gehen – to go (to walk): Er geht zur Arbeit – He’s going to work (implies walking). Sie gehen spazieren – They go for a walk (explicitly walking)
• Laufen – to run / to walk fast: Ich laufe im Park spazieren – I’m running in the park
• Fahren – to go (to drive / to ride / to travel): Er fährt zur Arbeit – He’s driving to work
• kommen – to come: Woher kommst du? – Where are you from?
• Nach Hause kommen – Come home: Look out for compound verbs using kommen, like ankommen (to arrive) or mitkommen (tag along / come with).
• Schwimmen – to swim: Ich schwimme gern – I like to swim

 

German Verbs about Activities

• Lesen – to read. Ein Buch lesen – Read a book
• Hören – to hear / listen to. Musik hören – Listen to music
• Lernen – to learn. Deutsch lernen – Learn German
• Arbeiten – to work. Ich arbeite 40 Stunden – I work 40 hours
• Schreiben – to write. Eine Geschichte schreiben – Write a story
• Spielen – to play (a sport, an instrument, video games, etc.). Tennis spielen? – Play tennis?
• Schlafen – to sleep. Ich schlafe 8 Stunden – I sleep 8 hours. Look out for compound verbs using schlafen like schlafen gehen (go to bed) or einschlafen (fall asleep).

Other Everyday Verbs

This list of German verbs would not be complete without these everyday verbs:

• Machen – to make: Ein Armband machen – Make a bracelet
• Essen – to eat: Kuchen essen – Eat cake
• Trinken – to drink: Wasser trinken – Drink water
• Anfangen – to start / to begin: Die Party starten – Start the party
• Glauben – to believe: Glaube an dich selbst – Believe in yourself
• Kaufen – to buy: Brot kaufen – Buy bread. A compound verb from kaufen is einkaufen which means to do the shopping or go to the supermarket. Ich gehe mit den Kindern einkaufen – I’m shopping with the kids
• Wohnen – to live / to reside: Ich wohne in einem Haus – I live in a house
• Sagen – to say: Die Kinder sagen Gute Nacht – The children say good night
• Verstehen – to understand: Verstehst du? – Do you understand?
• Zahlen / bezahlen – to pay: Ich zahle mit Karte bitte – I’ll pay by card, please
• Wissen – to know: Wissen Sie die Antwort? – Do you know the answer?
• Zeigen – to show: Ich zeige es Ihnen – Let me show you
• Lieben – to love: Ich liebe Brot – I love bread
• Sprechen – to speak: Ich spreche Deutsch – I speak German
• Nehmen – to take: Sie wird das Brot nehmen – She will take the bread. This verb is similar to the verb mitnehmen for takeout, but this verb is typically used for fast food or Essen zum Mitnehmen.
• Sehen – to see: Siehst du mich? – Do you see me?
• Finden – to find: Wir werden sie finden – We will find them
• Fragen – to ask: Frag den Lehrer – Ask the teacher
• Geben – to give: Gib es mir – Give it to me
• Helfen – to help: Ich kann helfen – I can help

 

40 German Words for Everyday Life

If you’d like to see 40 more everyday German verbs, check out this video below by GermanPod101.com.

The more practice you get, the easier it will be remembered! And if you’d like to add these verbs to your flash cards, get started here.