Trennbar Verben Flashcards
ab
trennbar
usually - but not always - carries the notion of “away from”
“abblenden” (to fade out, dim [lights]); “abbrechen” (to break off); “abbrennen” (to burn down); “abdanken” (to abdicate, resign); “abdrücken” (to pull the trigger; to shoot); “abfahren” (to drive off; to depart [by car]); “abfegen” (to brush off); “abhacken” (to chop off); “abhängen von” (to be dependent on); “abhören” (to wiretap); “abkommen” (to get away); “ablenken” (to divert); “abnehmen” (to remove; to take away); “abnutzen” (to wear out); “abriegeln” (to bolt [a door]; to close off); “abschaffen” (to do away with); “abschicken” (to send off); “absichern” (to secure); “abstimmen” (to vote); “abtreiben” (to abort); “abwehren” (to repulse; to fend off); “abziehen” (to deduct; to withdraw); “abzweigen” (to branch off).
an
trennbar
usually carries the meanings “at,” “begin,” “on,” “onward,” “to,” or “toward”
“anbauen” (to build on; to add; to cultivate [a crop]); “anbeißen” (to take a bite of); “anbinden” (to attach); “anbringen” (to fasten, install); “andauern” (to last, continue); “anfahren” (to drive up; to arrive [by car]); “anfangen” (to begin); “anfassen” (to take hold of); “anhängen” (to attach); “angreifen” (to attack); “anhaben” (to have on, wear); “anhalten” (to cause to stop); “ankommen” (to arrive); “anlächeln” (to smile at); “anlehnen” (to lean); “anmachen” (to attach; to make a pass at); “anmerken” (to notice; to note); “anpacken” (to take hold of); “anpfeifen” (to whistle for play to start); “anrechnen” (to take into account); “anschießen” (to shoot at and wound); “anschauen” (to look at); “anschneiden” (to cut into [cut the first piece of]); “ansehen” (to look at; to regard); “ansprechen” (to speak to; to initiate a conversation with); “anstreben” (to aspire to); “anstrengen” (to strain); “antippen” (to give a light tap to); “anzeigen” (to report to the authorities; to show); “anziehen” (to attract; to put on); “anzünden” (to ignite).
auf
trennbar
adds the meanings “on,” “open,” “out,” “up,” or “un-“:
“aufarbeiten” (to finish off; to reuse); “aufatmen” (to breathe a sigh of relief); “aufbauen” (to build up); “aufbessern” (to improve); “aufbewahren” (to keep, to store); “aufbinden” (to untie; to undo); “aufblühen” (to blossom forth); “aufbrauchen” (to use up); “aufbrechen” (to break open); “aufbrauchen” (to use up); “aufdecken” (to uncover); “aufdrehen” (to unscrew; to turn up, to wind up); “aufessen” (to eat up); “auffallen” (to stand out, be noticeable); “auffassen” (to grasp, undertsand); “auffliegen” (to fly up); “aufgeben” (to give up); “aufgehen” (to open); “aufklären” (to enlighten); “aufkommen” (to arise, spring for [costs]); “aufmachen” (to open); “aufpassen” (to look, to watch out); “aufpumpen” (to inflate); “aufrichten” (to erect); “aufschlagen” (to open [a book]); “aufschließen” (to unlock; to open up); “aufschneiden” (to cut open); “aufschreiben” (to write down); “aufsein” (to be open; to be up); “auftischen” (to serve up); “aufwachsen” (to grow up); “aufweichen” (to soften up); “aufziehen” (to wind up; to raise [children]); “aufzwingen” (to force upon).
aus
trennbar
adds the meanings “out,” “outward,” “extended,” “completely,” “missing”:
“ausbauen” (to extend; to improve; to expand); “ausbessern” (to fix; to touch up); “ausbeuten” (to exploit); “ausbilden” (to train); “ausbleiben” (to stay away; to fail to show up); “ausbreiten” (to spread out); “ausbrennen” (to burn out); “ausdehnen” (to extend; to expand); “ausdiskutieren” (to discuss thoroughly); “ausfahren” (to go for a drive; to take for a drive); “ausfallen” (to fail, to drop out; to be canceled); “ausführen” (to take for a walk; to carry out [work]; to put into practice); “ausfüllen” (to fill out [a form]); “ausgehen” (to go out); “ausgleichen” (to even out); “aushalten” (to endure; to withstand); “aushelfen” (to help out); “ausklammern” (to bracket out); “ausklingen” (to fade away [music]); “auslachen” (to laugh at); “ausleihen” (to lend); “ausmachen” (to turn off; to extinguish; to make a difference; to add up to); “auspressen” or “ausquetschen” (to press or squeeze out); “ausradieren” (to erase); “ausreichen” (to be sufficient); “ausrichten” (to pass on [a message]); “ausrotten” (to eradicate); “ausrüsten” (to equip); “sich ausschlafen” (to get a good sleep); “ausschließen” (to exclude; to lock out); “ausschütten” (to spill out; to tip out); “aussteigen” (to get out of [a car, train]); “aussehen” (to appear); “auswechseln” (to switch; to replace).
auseinander
trennbar
has the sense of “apart”:
“auseinanderbekommen” (to manage to get apart”); “auseinanderbrechen” (to break up; to break apart); “auseinanderfallen” (to fall apart); “auseinandergehen” (to part; to disperse); “auseinanderhaltem” (to distinguish; to keep apart); “sich mit etwas auseinandersetzen” (to come to terms with something); “sich mit jemandem auseinandersetzen” (to have it out with someone).
bei
trennbar
has the meanings of “along” or “with”:
“beibehalten” (to retain); “beibringen” (to teach); “beifügen” (to enclose [along with]); “beikommen” (to get hold of, deal with); “beiliegen” (to be enclosed [along with]); “beimischen” (to add [to a mixture]); “beisetzen” (to bury); “beitragen” (to contribute [to]); “beitreten” (to join); “beiwohnen” (to be present at)
da + dabei
trennbar
mean “there” — “dabei-“ has the sense of staying with something that is going on:
“dabeibleiben” (to stay there; to stick with); “dabeisein” (to be present at; to take part in); “dabeisitzen” or “dabeistehen” (to sit/stand there; to stick with); “dableiben” (to stay there); “dalassen” (to leave there).
da or dar + prepositions
Many of the prefixes listed here can be preceded by “da” (or, if the preposition begins with a vowel, “dar-“), effectively adding the notion of “it” to the meaning. In most such cases, the new meaning is clear, the equivalent of a prepositional phrase formed with “da-“. For example, “es macht mir nichts aus” (I don’t mind; it makes no difference to me) becomes “ich mache mir nichts daraus” (I don’t worry about it). There are, however, some prefixes which require the “da-“ (or “dar-“) for logical purposes, e.g. “dazwischen-“. Or, see the above examples of “dabei-“.
Here are just some examples of of the other particular meanings that can ensue through the addition of “da-“ (or “dar-“):
“sich daranmachen” (to set about it; to get down to it); “dahinterkommen” (to find out); “dazwischenreden” (to interrupt);
durch
trennbar
has the meaning of entering a process with purpose and coming out the other end.
“durcharbeiten” (to work through); “durchbrechen” (to break through); “durchatmen” (to breathe deeply); “durchbraten” (to cook or roast all the way through); “durchdrehen” (to put through a grinder); “durchgehen” (to walk through); “sich durchfinden” (to find one’s way through); “durchhalten” (to withstand, to endure); “durchfahren” (to drive straight through); “durchführen” (to implement; to carry out [a task]); “durchkämmen” (to comb through [hair]); “durchlassen” (to allow through); “durchschlüpfen (to slip through); “durchschneiden” (to cut through); “durchsprechen” (to talk through; to talk over; to talk out; to argue something out); “durchstoßen” (to knock a hole through); “durchwählen” (to dial directly); “durchziehen” (to pull through [an opening]).
ein
trennbar
has the meanings of “in”, “into”, “inward”:
“einatmen” (to inhale); “einberufen” (to conscript; to convene); “einbiegen” (to turn in); “einbrechen” (to break in; to cave in); “eincremen” (to put lotion on); “eindringen” (to enter forcibly into); “einfahren” (to drive in); “einfallen” (to collapse; to occur to); “eingehen” (to enter, to sink in; to shrink); “einkalkulieren” (to take into account); “einkaufen” (to shop); “einkellern” (to store in the cellar); “einklammern” (to put in brackets); “einladen” (to invite); “einlassen” (to allow to enter); “einleiten” (to introduce, begin); “einmarschieren” (to march in); “einordnen” (to put into order); “einparken” (to park [in a parking space]); “einreden” (to pursuade); “einsacken” (to pocket); “einschlagen” (to hammer in; to knock in); “einschneiden” (to make a cut in); “einschreiben” (to enroll); “einschreiten” (to intervene); “einspringen” (to jump in [to help out]); “einsteigen” (to enter [a vehicle]); “einstudieren” (to rehearse); “eintauchen” (to immerse; to dive in); “eintreten” (to enter); “einwerfen” (to throw in; to drop [a coin or letter]); “einwilligen” (to agree [to]; to consent); “einzahlen” (to pay in; to pay a deposit).
empor
trennbar
has the meaning of “upwards”:
“sich emporarbeiten” (to work one’s way up); “emporblicken” (to raise one’s eyes); “emporheben” (to lift up); “emporragen” (to tower above); “emporschießen” (to shoot up [grow suddenly]); “emporsteigen” (to climb up); “emporstreben” (to aspire).
entgegen
trennbar
means “toward” or “against”:
“entgegenarbeiten” (to work against); “entgegenkommen” (to approach; to accommodate; to meet halfway); “entgegennehmen” (to accept or receive); “entgegensetzen” (to contrast); “sich entegenstellen” (to oppose); “entgegentreten” (to confront); “entgegenwirken” (to counteract).
entlang
trennbar
means “along”. It can be affixed to just about any verb of motion.
“entlanggehen”, “entlanglaufen” (to go/walk along)
entzwei
trennbar
means “asunder”, “in half”, “into two pieces”:
“entzweibrechen” (to break in two); “entzweigehen” (to come apart); “entzweireißen” (to rip in two); “entzweischlagen” (to smash into two pieces).
fehl
trennbar
has the sense of “wrong” or “false”. It more often affixed to nouns (e.g. “die Fehlanzeige” [indication error], “die Fehlplanung” [bad planning]; “der Fehlschlag” [error; miss]; “der Fehltritt” [false step]). But there are also some verbs:
“fehlbesetzen” (to miscast [in film or theater]); “fehlgehen” (to go wrong); “fehlstarten” (to make a false start)
fern
nicht trennbar
means “far” and corresponds to the English “tele-“. It more often affixed to nouns (e.g. “die Fernbahn” [long-distance rail]; “der Fernsprecher” [telephone]; “der Fernfahrer” [long-haul truck driver]; “das Ferngespräch” [long-distance phone call]; “das Fernrohr” [telescope]). But there are also some verbs:
“fernbedienen” (to operate by remote control); “fernlenken” (to steer by remote control); “das würde mir fernliegen” (that would be the last thing I would do); “fernsehen” (to watch television)
fest
trennbar
means “firm” or “fixed”. It often appears as an adverb or adjective (e.g. “fest glauben” [to believe firmly]). Not to be confused with “das Fest”, as in “das Festessen” (banquet; feast).
“festbeißen” (to bite into firmly); “festfrieren” (to ice over); “festhalten” (to hold on firmly); “festkleben” (to glue on; to be glued on); “festlaufen” (to run aground); “festlegen” (to establish); “festmachen” (to fasten firmly); “festnageln” (to nail down); “festnehmen” (to arrest); “festsitzen” (to be stuck).
fort
trennbar
means “away,” “forth,” or “onward” [as in “continuing”].
“sich fortbewegen” (to move along; to move on); “fortbilden” (to continue [one’s] education); “fortbringen” (to take away [for repair]); “sich fortentwickeln” (to continue to develop); “fortfahren” (to continue); “fortlaufen” (to run away); “fortpflanzen” (to propagate); “fortreden” (to continue talking) “fortsetzen” (to continue; to carry on with; to resume); “forttreiben” (to drive away; to drift away; to continue on with).
frei
trennbar
means “free” or “clear”:
“freibekommen” (to get time off); “freigeben” (to release [a prisoner]; to allow [a currency] to float); “freihalten” (to keep clear [not block]); “freikämpfen” (to liberate); “freikaufen” (to ransom; to buy [a slave’s] freedom); “freikommen” (to escape; to get away); “freilegen” (to uncover); “freisetzen” (to rlease)
gegenüber
trennbar
means “across from,” “opposite:”
“gegenüberliegen” (to face, to be across from); “gegenübersitzen” (to sit facing, to sit across from); “gegenüberstehen” (to stand facing; to be confronted with); “gegenüberstellen” (to confront, to compare).
gleich
trennbar
means “equal”:
“gleichbleiben” (to stay the same); “gleichkommen” (to equal; to be tantamount to); “gleichmachen” (to make equal); “gleichsetzen” (to equate; to treat as equivalent)
heim
trennbar
means “(to) home”:
“heimbegleiten” (to accompany home); “heimfahren” (to drive home); “heimfinden” (to find one’s way home); “heimgehen” (to go/walk home); “heimkehren” (to return home); “heimkommen” (to come home);
But also: “heimsuchen” (to afflict); “heimzahlen” (to pay back; to get even with).
her
trennbar
indicates motion toward the speaker, “hither”. It can also combine with a number of other prefixes, making their direction more precise. Note that these prefixes do not necessarily replace prepositions:
Rapunzel zieht den Prinzen zu sich herauf.
Rapunzel pulls the prince up (to her).
Er fällt vom Baum herab.
He falls down out of the tree.
Die Kinder marschierten um das Haus herum.
The children march around the outside of the house.
“herbestellen” (to summon); “herfahren” (to travel/drive here); “herführen” (to bring here; to lead here); “herkommen” (to come here; to come from); “herstellen” (to manufacture; to produce); “hertragen” (to carry [to] here [in this direction]).
herab
trennbar
means “down from” or “off from”. Again, the direction is toward the point of view of the speaker:
“herabfallen” (to fall from); “herabfließen” (to flow down); “herabhängen” (to hang down); “herabsetzen” or “herabmindern” (to reduce; to disparage); “herabsehen [auf]” (to look down [on]); “herabsinken” (to sink down; to descend); “herabsteigen” (to climb down; to descend); “herabstürzen” (to plummet down).
