Complete Alphabetical Index of German Verbs

Mixed race student studying in library
Marc Romanelli / Getty Images

This alphabetical index lists over 500 common German verbs, some with a complete conjugation in all tenses.

Symbol Key for German Verbs

The following symbols are used in the subsequent tables for German verbs: D = Dative verbM = Modal verb, .s = sich Reflexive verb, S = Strong verb (irregular verb), C = Stem-changing verb (in pres. tense), an|fangen = Verb with separable prefix

German Verbs "A" Through "K"
A-D E-G H-K

A

achten to pay attention to, respect
an|erkennen S to recognize, acknowledge
an|fangen C/S to begin
See Verb prefixes (an-, aus- )
angeln to fish, angle
an|kommen S to arrive
ändern to change, alter
an|greifen S to attack
an|haben S to have on, wear
an|nehmen S to accept; assume
an|rufen S to call up (tel)
antworten D to answer
s. an|ziehen S to get dressed
arbeiten to work
ärgern to annoy, irritate
atmen to breathe
auf|fallen S to stand out, attract attention
aus|kommen S to come out, have enough of, make do, get along with
aus|machen - 10 meanings!
aus|stellen to exhibit
s. aus|ziehen to undress

B

backen S to bake
baden to bathe, swim
bauen to build
beben to quake, tremble
bedeuten to mean
s. bedienen to serve oneself
befehlen S to command
s. befinden S to be, find oneself
befreien to set free
begegnen D to meet
beginnen S to begin
begleiten to accompany
behalten S to keep
beissen S to bite
bekommen S to get, receive
beleben to enliven, cheer
beleidigen to insult
bellen to bark
belohnen to reward
bergen S to recover, salvage
berichten to report
bersten S to burst
besitzen S to own
bestellen to order
besuchen to visit
beten to pray
betrügen S to deceive, cheat
bewegen to move
bezahlen to pay
biegen S to bend
bieten to offer, bid
binden S to tie
bitten S to request, ask for
blasen C/S to blow
bleiben S to stay
blicken to look, glance
blitzen to flash
blühen to bloom
bluten to bleed
braten C/S to fry, roast
brauchen to need
brauen to brew
brausen to shower; roar
brechen C/S to break
brennen S to burn
bringen S to bring
brüllen to roar, shout
bürsten to brush

D

darf See dürfen
dämmen to dam, check, curb
dämmern to dawn, fall (dusk); doze
dampfen to steam
dämpfen to muffle, damp
danken D to thank
dar|stellen to show, portray
dämmen to dam, check, curb
dauern to last, endure
decken to cover, set (table)
dehnen to stretch
demonstrieren to demonstrate
denken S to think
deuten to point, indicate
dichten to caulk; write poetry
dienen to serve
dringen S to urge, pierce
drucken to print
drücken to push, press; oppress
ducken to stoop, duck; humble
dürfen to be permitted, allow
dürsten to thirst, be thirsty

E

ehren to honor
ein|atmen to breathe in
ein|bauen to install, put in
s. ein|bilden to imagine, get the idea
empfangen C/S to receive
empfehlen C/S to recommend
empfinden to feel, sense
entbehren to do without; lack, miss
See Verb prefixes (emp-, ent- )
entdecken to discover
entfernen to remove
entführen to abduct, kidnap
entgegenen to reply, retort
enthalten C/S to contain
entkommen to escape, get away
entschuldigen to excuse, apologize
erfinden to invent
erhalten C/S to obtain, receive, preserve
s. erinnern to remember
s. erkälten to catch a cold
erklären to explain, declare
erlöschen to be extinguished, dim
errichten to erect, establish
erschöpfen to exhaust, drain
erschrecken S to be frightened
ersticken to choke, smother
erwägen to consider, ponder
erwähnen to mention
erzählen to tell, recount, relate
S to eat

F

fahren S to travel, drive
fallen S to fall
fällen to cut down
falten to fold
fangen S to catch, capture
fassen to grasp, seize, conceive
fechten to fence, fight
feststellen to ascertain, establish
finden S to find
flicken to patch, repair
fliegen S to fly
fliehen S to flee, avoid
fließen S to flow, run
fluchen to curse, swear
fluten to flood, overflow
folgen D to follow
fragen to ask
fressen C/S to eat, feed, devour
s. freuen to be glad, rejoice
frieren S to freeze, feel cold
frühstücken to eat breakfast
fühlen to feel, perceive
führen to lead
füllen to fill
fürchten to fear

G

gähnen to yawn
gären to ferment
gebären to give birth to
geben C/S to give
gebrauchen to use
gedeihen S to thrive, prosper
gefallen C/S to be pleasing, like
gehen S to go
gelingen S to succeed
gelten S to be valid
genesen to recover, convalesce
s. genieren to feel embarrassed/awkward
genießen S to enjoy
geraten to get into, fall into
geschehen C/S to happen
gewinnen S to win, gain
s. gewöhnen to get used to, accustomed to
gießen S to pour, cast
glänzen to glitter, shine
glauben to believe
gleichen S to be like, resemble
gleiten to glide
glotzen to gape, stare
glühen to glow
graben S to dig
greifen S to grasp, grab, seize
grollen to be angry, grumble
grüßen to greet
gucken to look, peep

H

haben S to have
halten C/S to hold, stop, keep
hämmern to hammer, pound
handeln to act, trade, deal
hängen to hang
hassen to hate
hauen to hit, hew
heben S to lift, raise
heiraten to marry
heißen S to be named
heilen to heal
heizen to heat
helfen C/S to help
heraus|bekommen S to get out; find out, figure out
heraus|fordern to challenge
hetzen to rush about, incite
heulen to howl, bawl
hindern to hamper, impede
hoffen to hope
hören to hear
hüpfen to hop, jump
husten to cough

I

identifizieren to identify
immatrikulieren to register (univ)
impfen to vaccinate, inoculate
imponieren to impress, make an impression
importieren to import
informieren to inform
s. interessieren to be interested (in)
irren to wander, stray; be mistaken
irritieren to confuse; irritate
isolieren to insulate; isolate

J

jagen to hunt; chase, drive
jammern to wail, moan, yammer
jauchzen to rejoice, cheer
jaulen to howl
jobben to work, have a job
jodeln to yodel
joggen to jog
jucken to itch
justieren to adjust, justify (type

K

kämmen to comb
kämpfen to fight, struggle
kauen to chew
kaufen to buy
kehren to turn; sweep
kennen S to know, be familiar with
kennenlernen to get to know, become acquainted with
klagen to lament, complain
kleben to paste, stick
klingen S to ring, sound
klopfen to knock, beat
kneifen S to pinch, squeeze, crimp
knüpfen to tie, knot, fasten
kochen to cook, boil, seethe
kommen S to come​
können M to be able, can
kosten to cost
kotzen to vomit, puke
krächzen to caw, croak
kratzen to scratch, scrape, claw
kriechen S to crawl, creep
kriegen to get, obtain
kühlen to cool, refresh
kürzen to shorten, abbreviate

German Verbs "L" Through "Z"
L-R S-T U-Z

L

lächeln to smile
lachen to laugh
laden C / S to load
lassen C / S to let, leave, allow
laufen C / S to run, walk
lauschen to eavesdrop, listen
leben to live
lecken to lick; leak
legen to lay, put, place
See liegen
lehren to teach
leiden S to suffer
leihen S to lend, borrow, hire
lernen to learn, study
lesen C / S to read
leuchten to light up, shine, gleam
lichten to thin out, lighten
lieben to love
liegen S to lie, recline, be situated
loben to praise
locken to lure, attract, entice
lohnen to reward, recompense
s. lohnen to be worth (doing)
lösen to solve, dissolve; loosen
lügen to lie (not tell the truth)
lutschen to suck (on)

M

machen to make, do
mahlen to mill, grind
malen to paint, draw
managen to manage
meiden S to avoid, shun
meinen to mean, be of the opinion, think
merken to notice, mark, perceive
messen C / S to measure
mieten to rent, hire
mögen M to like (to)
müssen M to have to, must

N

nagen to gnaw, nibble
nähren to nourish; suckle
naschen to snack, nibble, nosh
necken to tease
nehmen C / S to take
nennen S to name, call
nicken to nod, doze
nützen to use; be useful

O

öffnen to open
operieren to operate (med.)
opfern to sacrifice
ordnen to organize, put in order

P

pachten to lease, rent
packen to pack; grab
passen to fit, be suitable
passieren to happen
pfeifen S to whistle
pflanzen to plant
plagen to plague, annoy
preisen to praise, commend
putzen to clean, groom

Q

quälen to torture, torment
qualmen to give off smoke
quellen S to gush, spring from
quetschen to squeeze, crush
quietschen to squeak, squeal

R

rächen to avenge
Rad fahren to ride a bike (VP)
raten to advise, guess
rauchen to smoke
räumen to clear away, evacuate
rauschen to rustle, murmur
rechnen to calculate, reckon
reißen S to tear, rip
reiten S to ride (horse)
rennen S to run
reichen to reach; pass
reisen to travel, journey
reinigen to clean, refine
reizen to excite, charm
richten to set right, adjust
riechen S to smell
ringen to struggle, wrestle
rollen to roll
rösten to roast
rücken to move, bring nearer
rufen S to call
ruhen to rest
rühren to stir, touch
rüsten to arm

S

sagen to say, tell
saufen S to drink to excess
saugen to suck, absorb
Staub saugen to vacuum (VP)
schaden to damage, hurt
schaffen S to create
schaffen to do, make, accomplish
schalten to switch, shift (gears)
schätzen to value, estimate
schauen to see, look
scheiden S to separate, divide
s. scheiden lassen S to divorce
scheinen S to shine, seem
scherzen to joke, kid
schicken to send
schieben S to push, shove
schießen S to shoot
schlachten to slaughter, butcher
schlafen C / S to sleep
schlagen S to hit, beat
schleichen S to sneak, creep
schleifen S to grind, polish
schließen to close; conclude
schmecken to taste
schmeißen S to throw, toss
schmelzen S to melt
schmerzen to hurt, smart
schmieren to grease; bribe
schneiden S to cut, slice
schneien to snow
schreiben S to write
schreien S to scream, yell
schreiten S to step, stride
schweben to soar, hover, float
schweigen S to be silent
schwimmen S to swim
schwitzen to sweat
schwören to swear
segnen to bless
sehen C / S to see
sein S to be
senden to send, broadcast
s. setzen to sit down
seufzen to sigh
sieden to boil, simmer
siegen to conquer, triumph
singen S to sing
sinken S to sink
sitzen S to sit
sollen M should, ought to, supposed to
spalten to split, divide
sparen to save
spazieren to stroll, walk
spielen to play
spinnen to spin; be nuts
sprechen S to speak, talk
springen S to jump
spritzen to spray, squirt
sprühen to spray; sparkle
spucken to spit
spülen to rinse, flush
spüren to feel, detect
statt|finden S to take place, happen
Staub saugen to vacuum (VP)
staunen to be amazed
stechen C / S to stab, sting, prick
stecken to set, be located
stehen to stand
stehlen to steal
steigen to climb, rise
stinken to stink
stöhnen to groan, moan
stopfen to stuff, cram
stören to disturb, upset
stoßen to push, bump
strahlen to beam, radiate
streben to strive
strecken to stretch, extend
streichen to strike, cancel; paint
streiten to quarrel, argue
stricken to knit
studieren to study (univ)
stürzen to plunge, fall, crash
suchen to look for, seek

T

tanken to get gas/petrol, refuel
tanzen to dance
taugen to be of use/value
toben to storm, rave
töten to kill
tragen C/S to wear, carry
trauen to trust, believe in; marry
träumen to dream
treffen C / S to meet, hit
treiben S to drive, propel
treten C / S to step, walk
trinken S to drink
trocknen to dry
tropfen to drip, drop
tun S to do, make, put

U

üben to exercise, practice
überraschen to surprise
überwinden S to overcome
umstellen to change over, shift
unterbrechen S to interrupt
s. unterhalten S to converse, entertain oneself

V

verachten to despise
verderben S to ruin, spoil
verdienen to earn, deserve
vereinigen to unite
verführen to seduce
vergessen S to forget
vergewaltigen to rape
s. verhalten S to behave, act
verhandeln to negotiate
verkaufen to sell
verkehren to trade, traffic; frequent
verklagen to complain, sue
verkommen S to decay, go bad
s. verlieben to fall in love
verlieren S to lose
vermehren to increase
vernichten to annihilate, exterminate
verraten S to betray
versagen to fail
verschlafen C / S to oversleep
verstehen S to understand
versuchen to attempt, try
vertreten to represent, stand in for
verwalten to administer, manage
verwechseln to confuse, mix up
verweigern to refuse
verweilen to linger, while away
verzeihen S to pardon, forgive
vor|kommen S to occur, happen
vor|stellen to introduce, present
s. vor|stellen to imagine

W

wachen to be awake; keep watch
wachsen C / S to grow
wagen to dare
wählen to choose, vote
währen to last, hold out
wälzen to roll
wandern to hike, wander
waschen C / S to wash
wechseln to change, exchange
wecken to wake, rouse
wehren to restrain; prevent
s. wehren to defend oneself
weichen to yield
weihen to consecrate, devote
weinen to cry, weep
wenden to turn
werben to recruit, court, woo, advertise
werden S to become
werfen C / S to throw
wetzen to sharpen, grind
widmen to dedicate, devote
wiederholen to repeat
wiegen S to weigh
wissen S to know
wohnen to reside, live
wollen M to want (to)
wünschen to wish, desire
würzen to season, spice

Z

zahlen to pay
zählen to count
zähmen to tame
zapfen to tap (beer)
zaubern to do magic, enchant
zeichnen to draw, sign
zeigen to show, indicate
zelten to camp
zerschlagen C/S to shatter, smash
zerstören to destroy
ziehen S to pull, draw
zielen to aim, target
zitieren to cite, quote
zittern to shake, tremble
zögern to hesitate
züchten to breed, culivate
zünden to ignite
zurück|nehmen C/S to take back
zwingen S to force, compel

Format
mla apa chicago
Your Citation
Flippo, Hyde. "Complete Alphabetical Index of German Verbs." ThoughtCo, May. 16, 2021, thoughtco.com/german-verbs-complete-alphabetical-index-4082136. Flippo, Hyde. (2021, May 16). Complete Alphabetical Index of German Verbs. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verbs-complete-alphabetical-index-4082136 Flippo, Hyde. "Complete Alphabetical Index of German Verbs." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/german-verbs-complete-alphabetical-index-4082136 (accessed March 19, 2024).