# 100 Most Common German Verbs For Beginners

By Max Yoko · Learning German · Updated 2026-10-19 · https://guide.germanyfastlane.com/100-most-common-german-verbs-every-beginner-should-know

**Short answer:** In this German starter guide, you learn the 100 most common German verbs with 4 groups of 25. Each comes with the English meaning and a simple example sentence. 

## Key takeaways

- Start with the 25 most essential verbs like sein, haben, können and müssen, because you hear them constantly in everyday conversations.
- German verbs change with the subject: sein becomes ich bin, du bist and er ist, which is called verb conjugation.
- Reflexive verbs such as sich freuen are used with words like mich, dich or sich.
- Use wissen for facts and information, and kennen when you are familiar with a person, place or thing.
- Separable verbs like anfangen split, and part of the verb moves to the end: Ich fange jetzt an.
- Learning these 100 verbs is a great start, but you also need grammar, pronunciation, listening practice and a structured plan.

In this article, I'll show you the 100 most common and useful German verbs every beginner should know.

We'll go through them step by step. For every verb, you'll find the English meaning and one simple German example sentence.

If you know these verbs, it'll be much easier to understand and speak German in everyday situations.

## **1. The 25 Most Essential German Verbs**

Let's start with some of the most important German verbs. You'll hear these constantly in everyday conversations, so they're a great starting point for beginners.

| **German Verb** | **English Meaning** | **Example Sentence** |
|---|---|---|
| sein | to be | Ich bin müde. (I am tired.) |
| haben | to have | Ich habe ein Auto. (I have a car.) |
| werden | to become | Ich werde Arzt. (I am becoming a doctor.) |
| können | can / to be able to | Ich kann Deutsch sprechen. (I can speak German.) |
| machen | to do / make | Was machst du heute? (What are you doing today?) |
| müssen | must / to have to | Ich muss heute arbeiten. (I have to work today.) |
| sagen | to say | Was sagst du? (What are you saying?) |
| gehen | to go | Ich gehe nach Hause. (I am going home.) |
| geben | to give | Ich gebe dir das Buch. (I give you the book.) |
| wollen | to want | Ich will einen Kaffee. (I want a coffee.) |
| kommen | to come | Ich komme morgen. (I am coming tomorrow.) |
| sollen | should / to be supposed to | Ich soll mehr lernen. (I should study more.) |
| sehen | to see | Ich sehe einen Hund. (I see a dog.) |
| mögen | to like | Ich mag Kaffee. (I like coffee.) |
| finden | to find / think | Ich finde das gut. (I think that is good.) |
| wissen | to know | Ich weiß die Antwort. (I know the answer.) |
| glauben | to believe / think | Ich glaube dir. (I believe you.) |
| lernen | to learn | Ich lerne Deutsch. (I am learning German.) |
| dürfen | may / to be allowed to | Darf ich hier sitzen? (May I sit here?) |
| denken | to think | Ich denke an dich. (I am thinking about you.) |
| heißen | to be called | Ich heiße Anna. (My name is Anna.) |
| sprechen | to speak | Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English?) |
| tun | to do | Was soll ich tun? (What should I do?) |
| fahren | to drive / travel | Ich fahre nach Berlin. (I am going to Berlin.) |
| schreiben | to write | Ich schreibe eine E-Mail. (I am writing an email.) |

> **Quick Tip:** 
German verbs change depending on the subject. For example, *sein* (to be) becomes *ich bin* (I am), *du bist* (you are), and *er ist* (he is). This is called verb conjugation, and it's one of the most important grammar topics for beginners.


## **2. Common German Verbs for Everyday Activities**

These next 25 verbs are useful when you talk about your daily routine, hobbies, work, and everyday situations.

| **German Verb** | **English Meaning** | **Example Sentence** |
|---|---|---|
| lassen | to let / leave | Ich lasse das Auto hier. (I leave the car here.) |
| fragen | to ask | Ich frage meinen Lehrer. (I ask my teacher.) |
| bekommen | to get / receive | Ich bekomme eine E-Mail. (I get an email.) |
| nehmen | to take | Ich nehme den Bus. (I take the bus.) |
| sich freuen | to be happy / look forward to | Ich freue mich auf morgen. (I am looking forward to tomorrow.) |
| zeigen | to show | Ich zeige dir das Foto. (I show you the photo.) |
| essen | to eat | Ich esse eine Pizza. (I am eating a pizza.) |
| arbeiten | to work | Ich arbeite in München. (I work in Munich.) |
| stehen | to stand | Ich stehe vor dem Haus. (I am standing in front of the house.) |
| bringen | to bring | Ich bringe dir Wasser. (I bring you water.) |
| kennen | to know / be familiar with | Ich kenne Berlin gut. (I know Berlin well.) |
| benutzen | to use | Ich benutze mein Handy. (I use my phone.) |
| bleiben | to stay | Ich bleibe heute zu Hause. (I am staying home today.) |
| leben | to live | Ich lebe in Deutschland. (I live in Germany.) |
| warten | to wait | Ich warte auf den Bus. (I am waiting for the bus.) |
| stellen | to put / place | Ich stelle die Tasse auf den Tisch. (I put the cup on the table.) |
| hören | to hear / listen | Ich höre Musik. (I listen to music.) |
| spielen | to play | Ich spiele Fußball. (I play football.) |
| kaufen | to buy | Ich kaufe Brot. (I buy bread.) |
| passieren | to happen | Was ist passiert? (What happened?) |
| verstehen | to understand | Ich verstehe dich. (I understand you.) |
| reden | to talk | Wir reden über die Arbeit. (We are talking about work.) |
| schaffen | to manage / accomplish | Ich schaffe das. (I can do it.) |
| halten | to hold | Ich halte die Tasche. (I am holding the bag.) |
| trinken | to drink | Ich trinke Wasser. (I drink water.) |

> **Quick Tip:** 
Some German verbs are reflexive, meaning they're used with words like *mich*, *dich*, or *sich*. For example, *ich freue mich* means "I'm happy" or "I'm looking forward to something", depending on the context.


## **3. Important German Verbs for Communication and Daily Life**

Now let's look at another 25 verbs that will help you express yourself, communicate with others, and describe common situations.

| **German Verb** | **English Meaning** | **Example Sentence** |
|---|---|---|
| treffen | to meet | Ich treffe meine Freunde. (I am meeting my friends.) |
| lesen | to read | Ich lese ein Buch. (I am reading a book.) |
| nennen | to call / name | Wir nennen ihn Markus. (We call him Markus.) |
| führen | to lead / guide | Er führt die Gruppe. (He leads the group.) |
| brauchen | to need | Ich brauche Hilfe. (I need help.) |
| stimmen | to be correct / be right | Das stimmt. (That is correct.) |
| wohnen | to live / reside | Ich wohne in Berlin. (I live in Berlin.) |
| helfen | to help | Kannst du mir helfen? (Can you help me?) |
| erzählen | to tell | Ich erzähle eine Geschichte. (I tell a story.) |
| erreichen | to reach | Wir erreichen Berlin um acht Uhr. (We reach Berlin at eight o'clock.) |
| sich vorstellen | to introduce oneself / imagine | Ich stelle mich vor. (I introduce myself.) |
| ziehen | to move / pull | Ich ziehe nach Berlin. (I am moving to Berlin.) |
| versuchen | to try | Ich versuche es noch einmal. (I try it again.) |
| laufen | to run / walk | Ich laufe jeden Morgen. (I run every morning.) |
| gewinnen | to win | Wir gewinnen das Spiel. (We win the game.) |
| suchen | to look for | Ich suche meinen Schlüssel. (I am looking for my key.) |
| erklären | to explain | Der Lehrer erklärt die Aufgabe. (The teacher explains the task.) |
| sich entscheiden | to decide | Ich entscheide mich für Tee. (I decide on tea.) |
| wählen | to choose / vote | Ich wähle das rote Auto. (I choose the red car.) |
| liegen | to lie / be located | Das Buch liegt auf dem Tisch. (The book is on the table.) |
| meinen | to mean / think | Was meinst du? (What do you mean?) |
| verlieren | to lose | Ich verliere meinen Schlüssel. (I lose my key.) |
| studieren | to study at university | Ich studiere in Berlin. (I study in Berlin.) |
| sich setzen | to sit down | Ich setze mich auf den Stuhl. (I sit down on the chair.) |
| hoffen | to hope | Ich hoffe es. (I hope so.) |

> **Quick Tip:** 
German has two different verbs for "to know": *wissen* and *kennen*. Use *wissen* when talking about facts or information, and *kennen* when you're familiar with a person, place, or thing.


## **4. More Useful German Verbs Every Beginner Should Know**

Finally, here are 25 more verbs that will help you talk about plans, feelings, experiences, and everyday activities.

| **German Verb** | **English Meaning** | **Example Sentence** |
|---|---|---|
| vergessen | to forget | Ich vergesse meinen Schlüssel. (I forget my key.) |
| sitzen | to sit | Ich sitze auf dem Sofa. (I am sitting on the sofa.) |
| einladen | to invite | Ich lade dich ein. (I invite you.) |
| beschreiben | to describe | Ich beschreibe mein Haus. (I describe my house.) |
| anschauen | to look at / watch | Ich schaue einen Film an. (I am watching a movie.) |
| ändern | to change | Ich ändere den Plan. (I change the plan.) |
| besuchen | to visit | Ich besuche meine Familie. (I visit my family.) |
| schlafen | to sleep | Ich schlafe acht Stunden. (I sleep for eight hours.) |
| kochen | to cook | Ich koche heute Abend. (I am cooking tonight.) |
| feiern | to celebrate / party | Wir feiern heute. (We are celebrating today.) |
| fallen | to fall | Das Glas fällt auf den Boden. (The glass falls on the floor.) |
| bauen | to build | Sie bauen ein Haus. (They are building a house.) |
| entwickeln | to develop | Wir entwickeln eine App. (We are developing an app.) |
| erwarten | to expect | Ich erwarte einen Anruf. (I am expecting a call.) |
| bezahlen | to pay | Ich bezahle mit Karte. (I pay by card.) |
| verkaufen | to sell | Ich verkaufe mein Auto. (I am selling my car.) |
| tragen | to wear / carry | Ich trage eine Jacke. (I am wearing a jacket.) |
| planen | to plan | Wir planen eine Reise. (We are planning a trip.) |
| danken | to thank | Ich danke dir. (I thank you.) |
| sich fühlen | to feel | Ich fühle mich gut. (I feel good.) |
| anfangen | to start / begin | Ich fange jetzt an. (I am starting now.) |
| sich erinnern | to remember | Ich erinnere mich daran. (I remember that.) |
| merken | to notice / realize | Ich merke den Unterschied. (I notice the difference.) |
| lieben | to love | Ich liebe meine Familie. (I love my family.) |
| erkennen | to recognize | Ich erkenne ihn. (I recognize him.) |

> **Quick Tip:** 
Some German verbs are separable. This means that a part of the verb moves to the end of the sentence. For example, *anfangen* (to start) becomes *Ich <u>fange</u> jetzt <u>an</u>* (I'm starting now).


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## Frequently asked questions

### What is the difference between wissen and kennen?

Both mean "to know". Use wissen for facts or information (Ich weiß die Antwort) and kennen for people, places or things you are familiar with (Ich kenne Berlin gut).

### What is the difference between wohnen and leben?

Both can mean "to live". In my list, wohnen means to live or reside somewhere (Ich wohne in Berlin), and leben means to live in a wider sense (Ich lebe in Deutschland).

### Why does the verb move to the end in some German sentences?

Some German verbs are separable. With anfangen (to start), part of the verb moves to the end: Ich fange jetzt an.

### Is learning 100 verbs enough to speak German?

These verbs make everyday German much easier, but vocabulary alone is not enough. You also need grammar, pronunciation, listening practice and a structured learning plan.