Irregular Verbs Flashcards
befehlen
bəˈfeːlən
to command Vowel change: befielh Preterite: befahl // befähle/beföhle Past participle: befohlen Auxiliary: haben - Note: "fehlen" is a regular verb.
beginnen
bəˈɡɪnən
to begin
Preterite: begann // begänne/begönne
Past participle: begonnen
Auxiliary: haben
beißen
ˈbaisn
to bite
Preterite: biss
Past participle: gebissen
Auxiliary: haben
bergen
ˈbɛrɡn
to save, rescue, recover (eg corpse), salvage Vowel change: birg Preterite: barg Past participle: geborgen Auxiliary: haben
bersten
ˈbɛrstn
Formal: to crack, break, burst Vowel change: birst^^ Preterite: barst Past participle: geborsten Auxiliary: sein
bewegen
bəˈveːɡn
to induce (sb to do sth), persuade Preterite: bewog Past participle: bewogen Auxiliary: haben - Also a regular verb meaning "move".
biegen
ˈbiːɡn
to bend; turn, curve Preterite: bog Past participle: gebogen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" when used to mean "turn, curve", takes "haben" with other meanings.
bieten
ˈbiːtn
to offer, bid Preterite: bot Past participle: geboten Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: auf = bid on/for (acc.)
binden
ˈbɪndn
to tie, bind
Preterite: band
Past participle: gebunden
Auxiliary: haben
bitten
ˈbɪtn
to request, beg
Preterite: bat
Past participle: gebeten
Auxiliary: haben
blasen
ˈblaːzn
to blow Umlaut change: bläs Preterite: blies Past participle: geblasen Auxiliary: haben
bleiben
ˈblaibn
to stay, remain
Preterite: blieb
Past participle: geblieben
Auxiliary: sein
braten
ˈbraːtn
to roast, bake, fry Umlaut change: brät^ Preterite: briet Past participle: gebraten Auxiliary: haben
brechen
ˈbrɛçn
to break Vowel change: brich Preterite: brach Past participle: gebrochen Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i)
dreschen
ˈdrɛʃn
to thresh; thrash (inf.) Vowel change: drisch Preterite: drosch Past participle: gedroschen Auxiliary: haben
dringen
ˈdrɪŋən
to penetrate; insist
Preterite: drang
Past participle: gedrungen
Auxiliary: haben or sein
Prepositions: an/in = get through to (acc.); auf = insist on (acc.)
- Takes “haben” when used to mean “insist”, takes “sein” with other meanings.
empfehlen
ɛmˈpfeːlən
to recommend Vowel change: empfiehl Preterite: empfahl // empfähle/empföhle Past participle: empfohlen Auxiliary: haben - Note: "fehlen" is a regular verb.
erklimmen
ɛɐˈklɪmən
to scale, climb (elev.)
Preterite: erklomm
Past participle: erklommen
Auxiliary: haben
erlöschen
ɛɐˈlœʃn
to go out (eg fire); expire Vowel change: erlisch Preterite: erlosch Past participle: erloschen Auxiliary: sein
erschrecken
ɛɐˈʃrɛkn
to be frightened, startled Vowel change: erschrick Preterite: erschrak Past participle: erschrocken Auxiliary: sein Prepositions: bei = by
erwägen
ɛɐˈvɛːɡn
to consider
Preterite: erwog
Past participle: erwogen
Auxiliary: haben
essen
ˈɛsn
to eat (of humans) Vowel change: iss Preterite: aß Past participle: gegessen Auxiliary: haben
fahren
ˈfaːrən
to go (by vehicle); drive/ride (vehicles)
Umlaut change: fähr
Preterite: fuhr
Past participle: gefahren
Auxiliary: sein or haben
- Takes “haben” when used to mean “drive/ride (a vehicle)” and certain other meanings.
fallen
ˈfalən
to fall, drop Umlaut change: fäll Preterite: fiel Past participle: gefallen Auxiliary: sein
fangen
ˈfaŋən
to catch Umlaut change: fäng Preterite: fing Past participle: gefangen Auxiliary: haben
fechten
ˈfɛçtn
to fence (of sport) Vowel change: ficht^ Preterite: focht Past participle: gefochten Auxiliary: haben
finden
ˈfɪndn
to find
Preterite: fand
Past participle: gefunden
Auxiliary: haben
flechten
ˈflɛçtn
to plait, braid Vowel change: flicht^ Preterite: flocht Past participle: geflochten Auxiliary: haben
fliegen
ˈfliːɡn
to fly
Preterite: flog
Past participle: geflogen
Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i)
fliehen
ˈfliːən
to flee Preterite: floh Past participle: geflohen Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i) Prepositions: vor = from
fließen
ˈfliːsn
to flow
Preterite: floss
Past participle: geflossen
Auxiliary: sein
frieren
ˈfriːrən
to be cold; freeze Preterite: fror Past participle: gefroren Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "haben" when used to mean "be cold" or "freeze (impers.)", takes "sein" when used to mean "freeze (i)".
gären
ˈɡɛːrən
to ferment Preterite: gor Past participle: gegoren Auxiliary: haben (t/i) or sein (i) - Regular when used figuratively, irregular when used literally.
gebären
ɡəˈbɛːrən
to give birth Vowel change*: gebier Preterite: gebar Past participle: geboren Auxiliary: haben *Vowel change when elevated.
geben
ˈɡeːbn
to give Vowel change: gib Preterite: gab Past participle: gegeben Auxiliary: haben
gedeihen
ɡəˈdaiən
to thrive
Preterite: gedieh
Past participle: gediehen
Auxiliary: sein
gehen
ˈɡeːən
to go, go (by foot), walk
Preterite: ging
Past participle: gegangen
Auxiliary: sein
gelingen
ɡəˈlɪŋən
to succeed (imp.)
Preterite: gelang
Past participle: gelungen
Auxiliary: sein
gelten
ˈɡɛltn
to be valid; be worth Vowel change: gilt^ Preterite: galt // gälte/gölte Past participle: gegolten Auxiliary: haben
genesen
ɡəˈneːzn
to convalesce
Preterite: genas
Past participle: genesen
Auxiliary: sein
genießen
ɡəˈniːsn
to enjoy
Preterite: genoss
Past participle: genossen
Auxiliary: haben
geschehen
ɡəˈʃeːən
to happen Vowel change: geschieh Preterite: geschah Past participle: geschehen Auxiliary: sein - Doesn't have 1st person, 2nd person or imperative forms.
gewinnen
ɡəˈvɪnən
to win, gain
Preterite: gewann
Past participle: gewonnen
Auxiliary: haben
gießen
ˈɡiːsn
to pour
Preterite: goss
Past participle: gegossen
Auxiliary: haben
gleichen
ˈɡlaiçn
to resemble
Preterite: glich
Past participle: geglichen
Auxiliary: haben
gleiten
ˈɡlaitn
to glide, slide Preterite: glitt Past participle: geglitten Auxiliary: sein - Note: "begleiten" is a regular verb.
glimmen
ˈɡlɪmən
to glow, smoulder Preterite: glomm Past participle: geglommen Auxiliary: haben - Either regular (rare) or irregular.
graben
ˈɡraːbn
to dig Umlaut change: gräb Preterite: grub Past participle: gegraben Auxiliary: haben
greifen
ˈɡraifn
to grasp
Preterite: griff
Past participle: gegriffen
Auxiliary: haben
halten
ˈhaltn
to hold Umlaut change: hält^ Preterite: hielt Past participle: gehalten Auxiliary: haben - Note: "beinhalten" is a regular verb.
hängen
ˈhɛŋən
to hang Preterite: hing Past participle: gehangen Auxiliary: haben - Regular when transitive, either regular or irregular when intransitive.
heben
ˈheːbn
to lift, raise
Preterite: hob
Past participle: gehoben
Auxiliary: haben
heißen
ˈhaisn
to call (of names)
Preterite: hieß
Past participle: geheißen
Auxiliary: haben
helfen
ˈhɛlfn
to help Vowel change: hilf Preterite: half // hälfe/hülfe Past participle: geholfen Auxiliary: haben
klingen
ˈklɪŋən
to sound, ring/clink/clang (bell/glass/metal)
Preterite: klang
Past participle: geklungen
Auxiliary: haben
kneifen
ˈknaifn
to pinch
Preterite: kniff
Past participle: kniffen
Auxiliary: haben
kommen
ˈkɔmən
to come
Preterite: kam
Past participle: gekommen
Auxiliary: sein
kriechen
ˈkriːçn
to creep, crawl
Preterite: kroch
Past participle: gekrochen
Auxiliary: sein
laden
ˈlaːdn
to load Umlaut change: läd Preterite: lud Past participle: geladen Auxiliary: haben
lassen
ˈlasn
to let, allow; stop (ie cease), leave (sb/sth alone) Umlaut change: läss Preterite: ließ Past participle: gelassen Auxiliary: haben
laufen
ˈlaufn
to run, walk Umlaut change: läuf Preterite: lief Past participle: gelaufen Auxiliary: sein* *Takes either "haben" or "sein" when used to mean "run/set (a time/record)".
leiden
ˈlaidn
to suffer Preterite: litt Past participle: gelitten Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: an/unter = from (dat.) - Note: "verleiden" is a regular verb.
leihen
ˈlaiən
to lend, loan; borrow, hire
Preterite: lieh
Past participle: geliehen
Auxiliary: haben
lesen
ˈleːzn
to read Vowel change: lies Preterite: las Past participle: gelesen Auxiliary: haben
liegen
ˈliːɡn
to lie (of position) Preterite: lag Past participle: gelegen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" in Southern Germany.
lügen
ˈlyːɡn
to lie (of falsehoods)
Preterite: log
Past participle: gelögen
Auxiliary: haben
meiden
ˈmaidn
to avoid
Preterite: mied
Past participle: gemieden
Auxiliary: haben
messen
ˈmɛsn
to measure Vowel change: miss Preterite: maß Past participle: gemessen Auxiliary: haben
misslingen
mɪsˈlɪŋən
to fail
Preterite: misslang
Past participle: misslungen
Auxiliary: sein
nehmen
ˈneːmən
to take Vowel change: nimm Preterite: nahm Past participle: genommen Auxiliary: haben
pfeifen
ˈpfaifn
to whistle
Preterite: pfiff
Past participle: gepfiffen
Auxiliary: haben
preisen
ˈpraizn
Elevated: to extol, praise
Preterite: pries
Past participle: gepriesen
Auxiliary: haben
quellen
ˈkvɛlən
to pour, gush; swell Vowel change: quill Preterite: quoll Past participle: gequollen Auxiliary: sein - Regular when used to mean "soak" (rare).
raten
ˈraːtn
to advise; guess Umlaut change: rät^ Preterite: riet Past participle: geraten Auxiliary: haben
reiben
ˈraibn
to rub
Preterite: rieb
Past participle: gerieben
Auxiliary: haben
reißen
ˈraisn
to tear, rip Preterite: riss Past participle: gerissen Auxiliary: haben or sein Prepositions: an = at - Takes "sein" when used to mean "tear/rip (i)".
reiten
ˈraitn
to ride (of animals) Preterite: ritt Past participle: geritten Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i) Prepositions: auf = on (dat.)
riechen
ˈriːçn
to smell Preterite: roch Past participle: gerochen Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: nach = of
ringen
ˈrɪŋən
to wrestle, struggle Preterite: rang Past participle: gerungen Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: mit = with
rinnen
ˈrɪnən
to run (of liquids)
Preterite: rann // ränne/rönne
Past participle: geronnen
Auxiliary: sein
rufen
ˈruːfn
to call (of communication)
Preterite: rief
Past participle: gerufen
Auxiliary: haben
saufen
ˈzaufn
to drink (of animals), guzzle (vulg.), drink (alcohol) (inf.) Umlaut change: säuf Preterite: soff Past participle: gesoffen Auxiliary: haben
saugen
ˈzauɡn
to suck Preterite: sog Past participle: gesogen Auxiliary: haben - Either regular or irregular.
schaffen
ˈʃafn
to create, make Preterite: schuff Past participle: geschaffen Auxiliary: haben - Regular when used to mean "manage, accomplish", irregular when used to mean "create", either regular or irregular when used to mean "make".
scheiden
ˈʃaidn
to separate; depart Preterite: schied Past participle: geschieden Auxiliary: haben or sein Prepositions: von = from - Takes "haben" when used to mean "separate", takes "sein" when used to mean "depart".
scheinen
ˈʃainən
to shine; seem/appear (imp.)
Preterite: schien
Past participle: geschienen
Auxiliary: haben
scheißen
ˈʃaisn
to shit
Preterite: schiss
Past participle: geschissen
Auxiliary: haben
schelten
ˈʃɛltn
to scold; curse Vowel change: schilt^ Preterite: schalt // schölte Past participle: gescholten Auxiliary: haben
scheren
ˈʃeːrən
to shear, clip Preterite: schor Past participle: geschoren Auxiliary: haben - Regular when used to mean "care (about)", irregular when used to mean "shear, clip".
schieben
ˈʃiːbn
to push, shove
Preterite: schob
Past participle: geschoben
Auxiliary: haben
schießen
ˈʃiːsn
to shoot Preterite: schoss Past participle: geschossen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "haben" when referring to projectiles, photography or sport, takes "sein" when referring to liquids spurting, plants sprouting or taking drugs, or when used figuratively.
schlafen
ˈʃlaːfn
to sleep Umlaut change: schläf Preterite: schlief Past participle: geschlafen Auxiliary: haben
schlagen
ˈʃlaːɡn
to hit; beat Umlaut change: schläg Preterite: schlug Past participle: geschlagen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" when used to mean "hit (on/against sth)" and with certain other meanings.
schleichen
ˈʃlaiçn
to sneak; creep
Preterite: schlich
Past participle: geschlichen
Auxiliary: sein
schleifen
ˈʃlaifn
to sharpen, grind (eg lens), sand, cut (eg gem) Preterite: schliff Past participle: geschliffen Auxiliary: haben - Also a regular verb meaning "drag".
schließen
ˈʃliːsn
to close
Preterite: schloss
Past participle: geschlossen
Auxiliary: haben
schlingen
ˈʃlɪŋən
to tie, wrap (elev.); gobble, gulp Preterite: schlang Past participle: geschlungen Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: um = (wrap) around
schmeißen
ˈʃmaisn
to chuck, fling, hurl (inf.)
Preterite: schmiss
Past participle: geschmissen
Auxiliary: haben
schmelzen
ˈʃmɛltsn
to melt Vowel change: schmilz Preterite: schmolz Past participle: geschmolzen Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i)
schneiden
ˈʃnaidn
to cut
Preterite: schnitt
Past participle: geschnitten
Auxiliary: haben
schreiben
ˈʃraibn
to write
Preterite: schrieb
Past participle: geschrieben
Auxiliary: haben
schreien
ˈʃraiən
to shout, cry out, scream
Preterite: schrie
Past participle: geschrien
Auxiliary: haben
schreiten
ˈʃraitn
Elevated: stride, walk (solemnly); strut
Preterite: schritt
Past participle: geschritten
Auxiliary: sein
schweigen
ˈʃvaiɡn
to be silent
Preterite: schwieg
Past participle: schwiegen
Auxiliary: haben
schwellen
ˈʃvɛlən
to swell Vowel change: schwill Preterite: schwoll Past participle: geschwollen Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i) - Regular when transitive, irregular when intransitive.
schwimmen
ˈʃvɪmən
to swim Preterite: schwamm // schwämme/schwömme Past participle: geschwommen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes either "haben" or "sein" when used to mean "swim" (dial.).
schwinden
ˈʃvɪndn
to dwindle, fade
Preterite: schwand
Past participle: schwunden
Auxiliary: sein
schwingen(ˈʃvɪŋən)
to swing
Preterite: schwang
Past participle: geschwungen
Auxiliary: haben
schwören
ˈʃvøːrən
to swear (ie vow)
Preterite: schwor // schwöre/schwüre
Past participle: geschworen
Auxiliary: haben
sehen
ˈzeːən
to see, look at Vowel change: sieh Preterite: sah Past participle: gesehen Auxiliary: haben
sieden
ˈziːdn
to boil Preterite: sott Past participle: gesotten Auxiliary: haben - Either regular or irregular.
singen
ˈzɪŋən
to sing
Preterite: sang
Past participle: gesungen
Auxiliary: haben
sinken
ˈzɪŋkn
to sink
Preterite: sank
Past participle: gesungen
Auxiliary: sein
sinnen
ˈzɪnən
to ponder
Preterite: sann // sänne/sönne
Past participle: gesonnen
Auxiliary: haben
sitzen
ˈzɪtsn
to sit Preterite: saß Past participle: gesessen Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" in Southern Germany and Austria.
speien
ˈʃpaiən
to spit; spew
Preterite: spie
Past participle: gespien
Auxiliary: haben
spinnen
ˈʃpɪnən
to spin; be crazy (inf.)
Preterite: spann // spänne/spönne
Past participle: gesponnen
Auxiliary: haben
sprechen
ˈʃprɛçn
to speak, talk, say Vowel change: sprich Preterite: sprach Past participle: gesprochen Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: über/von = about/of (acc.)
sprießen
ˈʃpriːsn
to sprout, come up (out of the earth)
Preterite: spross
Past participle: gesprossen
Auxiliary: sein
springen
ˈʃprɪŋən
to jump Preterite: sprang Past participle: gesprungen Auxiliary: sein* *Takes "haben" when used to mean "jump/set (a record)".
stechen
ˈʃtɛçn
to prick, sting Vowel change: stich Preterite: stach (ʃtaːx) Past participle: gestochen (ɡəˈʃtɔxn) Auxiliary: haben
stehen
ˈʃteːən
to stand Preterite: stand // stände/stünde Past participle: gestanden Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" in Southern Germany and Austria.
stehlen
ˈʃteːlən
to steal Vowel change: stiehl Preterite: stahl // stähle/stöhle Past participle: gestohlen Auxiliary: haben
steigen
ˈʃtaiɡn
to climb
Preterite: stieg
Past participle: gestiegen
Auxiliary: sein
sterben
ˈʃtɛrbn
to die Vowel change: stirb Preterite: starb // stürbe Past participle: gestorben Auxiliary: sein
stinken
ˈʃtɪŋkn
to stink Preterite: stank Past participle: gestunken Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: nach = of
stoßen
ˈʃtoːsn
to push, shove Umlaut change: stöß Preterite: stieß Past participle: gestoßen Auxiliary: haben* *Takes "sein" when used to mean "run/bump (into)".
streichen
ˈʃtraiçn
to stroke, spread, paint; cross out, delete, cancel
Preterite: strich
Past participle: gestrichen
Auxiliary: haben or sein
- Takes “sein” with certain intransitive meanings.
streiten
ˈʃtraitn
to argue, quarrel Preterite: stritt Past participle: gestritten Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: um/über = about/over (acc.)
tragen
ˈtraɡn
to carry; wear Umlaut change: träg Preterite: trug Past participle: getragen Auxiliary: haben - Note: "beantragen" and "beauftragen" are regular verbs.
treffen
ˈtrɛfn
to hit (a target); meet Vowel change: triff Preterite: traf Past participle: getroffen Auxiliary: haben
treiben
ˈtraibn
to drive (ie impel) Preterite: trieb Past participle: trieben Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" when used to mean "drift", takes "haben" with other meanings.
treten
ˈtreːtn
to kick; step Vowel change: tritt^ Preterite: trat Past participle: getreten Auxiliary: haben or sein - Takes "sein" when used to mean "step (movement, fig.)", "emerge, appear" or "start/begin", takes "sein" or "haben" when used to mean "step (on/in sth)" or "pedal, use a pedal (eg car)", takes "haben" with other meanings.
trinken
ˈtrɪŋkn
to drink
Preterite: trank
Past participle: getrunken
Auxiliary: haben
trügen
ˈtryːɡn
to deceive
Preterite: trog
Past participle: getrogen
Auxiliary: haben
tun
tuːn
to do
Preterite: tat
Past participle: getan
Auxiliary: haben
verderben
fɛɐˈdɛrbn
to ruin, spoil Vowel change: verdirb Preterite: verdarb // verdürbe Past participle: verdorben Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i)
verdrießen
fɛɐˈdriːsn
to annoy, irritate
Preterite: verdross
Past participle: verdrossen
Auxiliary: haben
verlieren
fɛɐˈliːrən
to lose
Preterite: verlor
Past participle: verloren
Auxiliary: haben
verschleißen
fɛɐˈʃlaisn
to wear out
Preterite: verschliss
Past participle: verschlissen
Auxiliary: haben (t) or sein (i)
verzeihen
fɛɐˈtsaiːən
to forgive, excuse
Preterite: verzieh
Past participle: verziehen
Auxiliary: haben
wachsen
ˈvaksn
to grow Umlaut change: wächs Preterite: wuchs Past participle: gewachsen Auxiliary: sein - Also a regular verb meaning "wax".
waschen
ˈvaʃn
to wash Umlaut change: wäsch Preterite: wusch Past participle: gewaschen Auxiliary: haben
weben
ˈveːbn
to weave Preterite: wob Past participle: gewoben Auxiliary: haben - Regular when used literally, irregular when used figuratively or literarily.
weichen
ˈvaiçn
to yield; leave (sb/sth) Preterite: wich Past participle: gewichen Auxiliary: sein Prepositions: vor = (retreat) from - Also a regular verb meaning "soak".
weisen
ˈvaizn
Elevated: to show, point; expel, eject (sb)
Preterite: wies
Past participle: gewiesen
Auxiliary: haben
Prepositions: nach = (point) towards; auf = (point) at (acc.)
werben
ˈvɛrbn
to recruit, attract; advertise Vowel change: wirb Preterite: warb // würbe Past participle: geworben Auxiliary: haben
werfen
ˈvɛrfn
to throw Vowel change: wirf Preterite: warf // würfe Past participle: geworfen Auxiliary: haben Prepositions: nach = at
wiegen
ˈviːɡn
to weigh Preterite: wog Past participle: gewogen Auxiliary: haben - Also a regular verb meaning "rock, sway".
winden
ˈvɪndn
to wind Preterite: wand Past participle: gewunden Auxiliary: haben - Also a regular verb meaning "blow (wind) (imp.)".
wringen
ˈvrɪŋən
to wring
Preterite: wrang
Past participle: gewrungen
Auxiliary: haben
ziehen
ˈtsiːən
to pull; move Preterite: zog Past participle: gezogen Auxiliary: haben or sein Prepositions: aus = of - Takes "sein" when used to mean "move", takes "haben" with other meanings.
zwingen
ˈtsvɪŋən
to force (ie compel)
Preterite: zwang
Past participle: gezwungen
Auxiliary: haben
