German Verb Prefixes
Part 3: Dual Prefixes
Verbalpräfixe - Vorsilben bei Zeitwörtern
This verb prefix guide, with a prefix chart, is part of Lesson 19 of our of free German for Beginners course. To learn more about German verbs, also see our German Verbs section .
Verb Prefixes > Inseparable | Separable | Dual >
Rechtschreibreform > Sample Sentences with verb prefixes
| Dual or Variable Prefixes Separable/Inseparable Prefixes (Can be either one or the other) |
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| Prefix | Meaning | Examples |
| durch- | through | durchdringen (sep., penetrate) durchfahren (sep., drive through) durchfressen (insep., eat through [acid, rust, etc.]) |
| hinter- | behind | hinterlassen (insep., leave; bequeath) hinterlassen (sep., allow s.o. to go behind) |
| über- | over, across | überfahren (insep., run over) überfahren (sep., ferry across, cross over) überfallen (insep., attack, hold up [a bank]) übersetzen (insep., translate) übersetzen (sep., ferry across) überwinden (insep., overcome) |
| um- | around | umarmen (insep., embrace, hug) umbauen (sep., renovate, convert) umbauen (insep., enclose, surround) umbinden (sep., tie on) umkehren (sep., turn back, turn inside out) umschreiben (sep., rewrite, transcribe) umschreiben (insep., paraphrase, outline; skate around [fig.]) umziehen (sep., move [to new residence], change [clothes]) |
| unter- | down | unterbrechen (insep., interrupt, disconnect) unterbringen (sep., accomodate) unterdrücken (insep., oppress, repress, suppress) untergehen (sep., sink, perish) unternehmen (insep., do, undertake) unterwerfen (insep., conquer, subjugate) unterzeichnen (insep., sign [a document]) |
| wider- | against, re- | widerklingen (sep., resound) widerlegen (insep., refute, disprove) widerraten (insep., advise/counsel against) widersprechen (insep., contradict) widertönen (sep., echo) |
| wieder- | again | wiedergeben (insep., restore, give back; recite, perform; represent, reproduce, convey) wiederkehren (sep., return, repeat, recur) wiedersehen (sep., see/meet again) |
| Note: All of the dual verb prefixes are stressed when separable, unstressed when inseparable: übersetzen (ferry across) vs. übersetzen (translate). | ||
| BACK > Inseparable and Separable Prefixes | ||
Also see: Verb Prefixes and Rechtschreibreform
Comments: Dual-Prefix (Variable-Prefix) Verbs
In most cases, dual prefixes tend to be either mostly separable or inseparable. For example, the prefix durch- is usually separable. Its use as an inseparable prefix is limited to only a few instances, such as the verbs durchfressen, to eat through (chemically) or durchblitzen, to flash through (one's mind). On the other hand, the prefix über- is usually inseparable, as in übersetzen, to translate. Others, such as hinter-, are used in very few verbs at all. So it is best to concentrate on learning the few exceptions for the dual prefixes. Simply learn those exceptional dual-prefix verbs as vocabulary.
Another helpful guideline concerns the meaning of verbs with dual prefixes. If the verb is used in its literal sense (übersetzen, carry across, transfer), the prefix is separable. If the prefix is used in a figurative sense (übersetzen, to translate), the prefix is inseparable. The same verb spelling can have different meanings. For instance, when separable, umbauen means "to renovate." When inseparable, umbauen means "to enclose, surround" (to build around).
In spoken German, separable verb prefixes are stressed, while the inseparable prefixes are unstressed. This also applies to the dual prefixes, depending on whether they are separable or inseparable.
The form of the past participle for dual-prefix verbs also depends on whether the prefix is separable or inseparable, as outlined on the previous pages. For more about German verb tenses, also see our German Verbs section.
MORE > Sample Sentences with verb prefixes
Related Pages
Lesson 19
An introduction to separable-prefix verbs and their conjugation. Includes a brief look at inseparable prefixes as well. Part of our online German for Beginners course.
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