German Language

German Verb Prefixes

By adding various prefixes to a base verb, German can produce new meanings: kommen > abkommen (digress), ankommen (arrive), bekommen (get),entkommen (escape). (English does the same thing, using Greek and Latin prefixes: form > deform, inform, perform, etc.) Knowing the basic meaning of averb prefix can be helpful in learning German vocabulary, but not all prefixes have a specific meaning, nor does each prefix always have the same meaning.For instance, knowing the meaning of the prefix ver­ may or may not help you understand the meaning of verbs like verschlafen (to oversleep) orversprechen (to promise). The prefix meanings can be interesting and helpful, but they are no substitute for learning vocabulary.

Inseparable > > > > with verb prefixes

Inseparable PrefixesUntrennbare Präfixe

Prefix Meaning Examples

be­ like English be­

makes verb take a direct object(acc.)

s. befinden (be located)befolgen (follow)befreunden (befriend)begegnen (meet)bekommen (get)bemerken (notice, remark)

emp­ sense, receive empfangen (receive)empfehlen (recommend)empfinden (feel)

ent­ away from

English de­/dis­

entarten (degenerate)entbehren (miss, do without)entdecken (discover)entfallen (elude, slip)entfernen (remove, take out)entkalken (decalcify)entkleiden (disrobe, undress)entkommen (escape, get away)entlassen (discharge, release)entstehen (originate, be formed/created)entwerten (devalue, cancel)

er­ fatal, dead erhängen (hang, execute)erschiessen (shoot dead)ertrinken (drown)

like English re­ s. erinnern (remember)erkennen (recognize)erholen (recover, relax)

ge­ ­ ­ gebrauchen (use, make use of)gedenken (commemorate, intend)gefallen (like)gehören (belong to)gelangen (arrive at)geloben (vow)genesen (recover, recuperate)gestalten (shape, form)gestehen (confess)gewähren (grant, give, offer)

miss­ English mis­ missachten (disregard, disdain)missbrauchen (abuse, misuse)misstrauen (mistrust)missverstehen (misunderstand)

ver­ bad, awryEnglish mis­

verachten (despise)verbilden (miseducate)verderben (go bad, spoil)s. verfahren (go astray, get lost)verkommen (go to ruin, become run down)verschlafen (oversleep)

lose, away/out verdrängen (drive out)verduften (lose its aroma)verlassen (leave, abandon)verlieren (lose)

English for­ verbieten (forbid)vergeben (forgive)vergessen (forget)

??? verbinden (bandage, link, tie)vergrößern (enlarge)verhaften (arrest)versprechen (promise)

voll­* full, complete vollenden (complete, finish)vollführen (execute, perform)vollstrecken (enforce, execute)

zer­ collapse, shatter, shred zerbrechen (shatter)zerreissen (rip up, shred)zerstören (destroy)

Comments: Inseparable Prefix VerbsThere are verbs in English that are constructed and used much like German inseparable­prefix verbs: contend, extend, pretend, and intend are all based onthe verb "tend." A similar example in German is the verb finden (find). By adding various inseparable prefixes, German alters the meaning of finden tocreate new meanings: sich befinden (be located), empfinden (feel), or erfinden (invent). As you can see, many common German verbs are inseparable­prefix verbs.

German verbs with inseparable prefixes do not add the normal past participle prefix ge­ in the perfect tenses. Examples: bekommen (to get) hat/hattebekommen; erwarten (to expect, await) hat/hatte erwartet; verstehen (to understand) hat/hatte verstanden. For more about German verb tenses,see our German Verbs section.