German reference

The most common German verbs

The 300 verbs you will meet most often in German, ordered by frequency rather than by textbook chapter. Between them they account for 22.4% of everyday speech.

300verbs
22.4%of everyday speech
#1rank of the commonest
#WordEnglishSay itShare
1seinto bezeyen4.839%
4habento haveHAH-buhn2.492%
15werdento becomeVEHR-duhn1.059%
18könnento be able toKUH-nuhn0.811%
29wissento knowVIH-suhn0.586%
31sagento sayZAH-guhn0.542%
33gehento goGAY-uhn0.518%
36kommento comeKAW-muhn0.502%
39machento make/doMAH-khuhn0.494%
41müssento have toMEW-suhn0.477%
45sehento seeZAY-uhn0.440%
50wollento wantvaw-luhn0.391%
51tunto dotoon0.385%
55sollenshouldZAW-luhn0.358%
67gebento giveGAY-buhn0.303%
72lassento letLAH-suhn0.258%
74hörento hearHUH-ruhn0.244%
79denkento thinkDEHNG-kuhn0.211%
82dankento thankDAHNG-kuhn0.206%
84bittento ask/requestBIH-tuhn0.205%
91glaubento believeGLOW-buhn0.175%
99lebento liveLAY-buhn0.156%
105mögento likeMUH-guhn0.149%
108brauchento needBROW-khuhn0.141%
109nehmento takeNAY-muhn0.141%
113findento findFIHN-duhn0.131%
119redento talkRAY-duhn0.118%
120wartento waitVAHR-tuhn0.117%
121liebento loveLEE-buhn0.116%
124verstehento understandfehr-SHTAY-uhn0.114%
126bringento bringBRIH-nguhn0.112%
131bleibento stayBLEYE-buhn0.106%
137kennento know (a person)KEH-nuhn0.103%
139helfento helpHEHL-fuhn0.102%
142stehento standSHTAY-uhn0.097%
148fragento askFRAH-guhn0.090%
149haltento holdHAHL-tuhn0.090%
152sprechento speakSHPREH-khuhn0.083%
156dürfento be allowed toDEWR-fuhn0.080%
159spielento playSHPEE-luhn0.078%
166fahrento driveFAH-ruhn0.071%
172passierthappenspah-SEERT0.067%
175suchento searchZOO-khuhn0.066%
176kriegento getKREE-guhn0.066%
177tötento killTUH-tuhn0.066%
178heißento be calledHEYE-suhn0.066%
179sterbento dieSHTEHR-buhn0.066%
183bekommento getbuh-KAW-muhn0.063%
184stimmento be right/to voteSHTIH-muhn0.063%
186laufento run/walkLOW-fuhn0.063%
189holento fetchHOH-luhn0.061%
195essento eatEH-suhn0.059%
198versuchento tryfehr-ZOO-khuhn0.059%
199stellento placeSHTEH-luhn0.059%
200treffento meetTREH-fuhn0.058%
202rufento call outROO-fuhn0.058%
206fallento fallFAH-luhn0.056%
209arbeitento workAHR-beye-tuhn0.056%
214vergessento forgetfehr-GEH-suhn0.055%
219zeigento showTSEYE-guhn0.053%
238schaffento manage/createSHAH-fuhn0.047%
240schlafento sleepSHLAH-fuhn0.047%
241fühlento feelFEW-luhn0.047%
244liegento lie (down)LEE-guhn0.045%
247ziehento pullTSEE-uhn0.045%
252schauento lookSHOW-uhn0.043%
253setzento set/sitZEH-tsuhn0.043%
264erzählento tellehr-TSEH-luhn0.041%
277endento endEHN-duhn0.038%
280nennento nameNEH-nuhn0.038%
285passento fitPAH-suhn0.037%
291trinkento drinkTRIHNG-kuhn0.036%
296schreibento writeSHREYE-buhn0.035%
298entschuldigento excuseehn-CHUUL-dih-guhn0.035%
300erinnernto remind/remembereh-RIH-nern0.035%
301hoffento hopeHAW-fuhn0.034%
309schickento sendSHIH-kuhn0.032%
311verlassento leavefehr-LAH-suhn0.032%
312sitzento sitZIH-tsuhn0.032%
317schlagento hitSHLAH-guhn0.032%
321lernento learnLEHR-nuhn0.031%
325rettento save/rescueREH-tuhn0.030%
330landento landLAHN-duhn0.030%
332kaufento buyKOW-fuhn0.030%
333lesento readLAY-zuhn0.029%
336anrufento call (phone)AHN-roo-fuhn0.029%
340tragento carry/wearTRAH-guhn0.029%
341verschwindento disappearfehr-SHVIHN-duhn0.029%
343ruhento restROO-uhn0.028%
345legento lay/putLAY-guhn0.028%
349scheinento seem/shineSHEYE-nuhn0.028%
353kümmernto take care ofKEW-mern0.027%
359planento planPLAH-nuhn0.027%
370fangento catchFAH-nguhn0.026%
378betento prayBAY-tuhn0.026%
385ortento locateAWR-tuhn0.025%
387reichento be enoughREYE-khuhn0.025%
388verlierento losefehr-LEE-ruhn0.025%
390führento leadFEW-ruhn0.025%
399erzählttellsehr-TSEHLT0.024%
400gefallento please/likeguh-FAH-luhn0.024%
407versuchttriesfehr-ZOOKHT0.024%
408klingento soundKLIH-nguhn0.024%
411wünschento wishVEWN-shuhn0.024%
412hassento hateHAH-suhn0.024%
413bedeutetmeansbuh-DAW-uh-tuht0.024%
422steckento stick/be stuckSHTEH-kuhn0.023%
424beweisento provebuh-VEYE-zuhn0.023%
428lachento laughLAH-khuhn0.023%
429lügento lieLEW-guhn0.023%
443heiratento marryheye-RAH-tuhn0.022%
447freuento be gladFRAW-uh-uhn0.021%
448gefälltlikes/pleasesguh-FEHLT0.021%
452vertrauento trustfehrt-ROW-uhn0.021%
454filmento filmFIHL-muhn0.021%
461wohnento live/resideVOH-nuhn0.020%
463tudo (imperative)too0.020%
472schließento closeSHLEE-suhn0.020%
473geschehento happenguh-SHAY-uhn0.020%
477folgento followFAWL-guhn0.019%
478antwortento answerAHN-tvawr-tuhn0.019%
482schreiento screamSHREYE-uhn0.019%
487fliegento flyFLEE-guhn0.019%
489kämpfento fightKEHM-pfuhn0.019%
492aufhörento stopOWF-huh-ruhn0.018%
504weinento cryVEYE-nuhn0.018%
514feuernto fireFAW-uh-ern0.018%
520erklärento explainehr-KLEH-ruhn0.017%
524schätzento estimate/valueSHEH-tsuhn0.017%
528zahlento payTSAH-luhn0.017%
530gewinnento winguh-VIH-nuhn0.017%
531beginnento beginbuh-GIH-nuhn0.017%
535öffnento openUHF-nuhn0.017%
543ratento guessRAH-tuhn0.016%
545klappento work outKLAH-puhn0.016%
547passierento happenpah-SEE-ruhn0.016%
548werfento throwVEHR-fuhn0.016%
554versprechento promisefehrshp-REH-khuhn0.016%
555erfahrento find outehr-FAH-ruhn0.016%
557ändernto changeEHN-dern0.015%
562singento singZIH-nguhn0.015%
565dauernto take (time)DOW-ern0.015%
570schießento shootSHEE-suhn0.015%
572funktioniertworksfuungk-tsyoh-NEERT0.015%
574vorstellento introduce/imagineFOHR-shteh-luhn0.015%
575besuchento visitbuh-ZOO-khuhn0.015%
578erkennento recognizeehr-KEH-nuhn0.015%
581opfernto sacrificeAW-pfern0.015%
588stehlento stealSHTAY-luhn0.014%
589tanzento danceTAHN-tsuhn0.014%
593reisento travelREYE-zuhn0.014%
596ladento load/shopLAH-duhn0.014%
599aussehento look (appear)OWS-zay-uhn0.014%
600umbringento killUUMB-rih-nguhn0.014%
605verkaufento sellfehr-KOW-fuhn0.014%
607meldento reportMEHL-duhn0.014%
609befehlento commandbuh-FAY-luhn0.014%
612ehrento honorAY-ruhn0.013%
618ansehento look atAHN-zay-uhn0.013%
626drehento turn/filmDRAY-uhn0.013%
632behaltento keepbuh-HAHL-tuhn0.013%
638herausfindento find outheh-ROWS-fihn-duhn0.013%
641störento disturbSHTUH-ruhn0.013%
642erwartento expectehr-VAHR-tuhn0.013%
653kostento costKAWS-tuhn0.012%
654steigento climbSHTEYE-guhn0.012%
672angreifento attackAHNG-reye-fuhn0.012%
673bezahlento paybuh-TSAH-luhn0.012%
677fehlento be missingFAY-luhn0.012%
680hängento hangHEH-nguhn0.012%
691gehörento belongguh-HUH-ruhn0.011%
693bildento formBIHL-duhn0.011%
697träumento dreamTRAW-uh-muhn0.011%
713fassento graspFAH-suhn0.011%
715nähernto approachNEH-ern0.011%
717verratento betrayfehr-RAH-tuhn0.011%
724rollento rollRAW-luhn0.011%
726guckento lookGUU-kuhn0.011%
731hauento hitHOW-uhn0.011%
735benutzento usebuh-NUU-tsuhn0.011%
738bestehento exist/pass (a test)buh-SHTAY-uhn0.010%
739wettento betVEH-tuhn0.010%
741übernehmento take overew-ber-NAY-muhn0.010%
743schwörento swearSHVUH-ruhn0.010%
745aufhaltento hold up/stopOWF-hahl-tuhn0.010%
750anfangento beginAHN-fah-nguhn0.010%
754kennenlernento get to knowKEH-nuhn-ler-nuhn0.010%
755fürchtento fearFEWRKH-tuhn0.010%
757berichtento reportbuh-RIHKH-tuhn0.010%
764brechento breakBREH-khuhn0.010%
770tretento kick/stepTRAY-tuhn0.010%
774entscheidento decideehn-CHEYE-duhn0.010%
775teilento share/divideTEYE-luhn0.010%
779schnappento grabSHNAH-puhn0.010%
786bewegento movebuh-VAY-guhn0.009%
788verdienento earn/deservefehr-DEE-nuhn0.009%
790küssento kissKEW-suhn0.009%
791mitnehmento take alongMIHT-nay-muhn0.009%
793streitento argueSHTREYE-tuhn0.009%
794irrento be mistakenIH-ruhn0.009%
795versteckento hidefehr-SHTEH-kuhn0.009%
802stoppento stopSHTAW-puhn0.009%
812atmento breatheAHT-muhn0.009%
814besitzento ownbuh-ZIH-tsuhn0.009%
816beeilento hurrybuh-EYE-luhn0.009%
824zählento countTSEH-luhn0.009%
826besorgento get/procurebuh-ZAWR-guhn0.009%
828handelnto act/dealHAHN-duhln0.009%
835bauento buildBOW-uhn0.009%
849beruhigento calm downbuh-ROO-ih-guhn0.009%
850schützento protectSHEW-tsuhn0.009%
851blickento glanceBLIH-kuhn0.009%
853merkento noticeMEHR-kuhn0.009%
859antunto do (to someone)AHN-toon0.009%
860erledigento take care ofehr-LAY-dih-guhn0.009%
861feiernto celebrateFEYE-ern0.009%
863verzeihento forgivefehr-TSEYE-uhn0.008%
864stöhnento groanSHTUH-nuhn0.008%
865greifento grabGREYE-fuhn0.008%
871dienento serveDEE-nuhn0.008%
873fickento fuck (vulgar)FIH-kuhn0.008%
884packento pack/grabPAH-kuhn0.008%
887heißehot/am calledHEYE-suh0.008%
891erhaltento receiveehr-HAHL-tuhn0.008%
905stehstand (imperative)shtay0.008%
914einladento inviteEYEN-lah-duhn0.008%
927lösento solveLUH-zuhn0.008%
931wachento keep watchVAH-khuhn0.008%
938beschützento protectbuh-SHEW-tsuhn0.008%
940erreichento reachehr-REYE-khuhn0.008%
942aufnehmento record/take inOWF-nay-muhn0.008%
953jagento huntYAH-guhn0.007%
960leistento afford/achieveLEYES-tuhn0.007%
977bergento hold/rescueBEHR-guhn0.007%
983zwingento forceTSVIH-nguhn0.007%
986annehmento assume/acceptAH-nay-muhn0.007%
987überlegento considerew-ber-LAY-guhn0.007%
989warnento warnVAHR-nuhn0.007%
993wirkento seem/have an effectVIHR-kuhn0.007%
997treibento drift/do (activity)TREYE-buhn0.007%
999klingelnto ringKLIH-nguhln0.007%
1000springento jumpSHPRIH-nguhn0.007%
1008rennento runREH-nuhn0.007%
1009zurückkommento come backtsoo-REWK-kaw-muhn0.007%
1010kochento cookKAW-khuhn0.007%
1013bietento offerBEE-tuhn0.007%
1018leidento sufferLEYE-duhn0.007%
1020riechento smellREE-khuhn0.007%
1024meintmeans/thinksmeyent0.007%
1035trennento separateTREH-nuhn0.007%
1037aufpassento pay attentionOWF-pah-suhn0.007%
1040hauhit/get out (imperative)how0.007%
1043fragask (imperative)frahk0.007%
1049deckento coverDEH-kuhn0.007%
1050überlebento surviveew-ber-LAY-buhn0.007%
1060vermissento miss (someone)fehr-MIH-suhn0.006%
1069wählento choose/voteVEH-luhn0.006%
1075fressento eat (of animals)FREH-suhn0.006%
1078nutzento use/benefitNUU-tsuhn0.006%
1088ergebento result in/surrenderehr-GAY-buhn0.006%
1096testento testTEHS-tuhn0.006%
1097zerstörento destroytsehr-SHTUH-ruhn0.006%
1116erinnertreminds/rememberseh-RIH-nert0.006%
1118schneidento cutSHNEYE-duhn0.006%
1125spürento senseSHPEW-ruhn0.006%
1126schmeckento tasteSHMEH-kuhn0.006%
1136lautetreads/goes (as stated)LOW-tuht0.006%
1137nachdenkento think overNAHKH-dehng-kuhn0.006%
1139bedeutento meanbuh-DAW-uh-tuhn0.006%
1145wachsento growVAHKH-zuhn0.006%
1149entspannento relaxehnch-PAH-nuhn0.006%
1160abhauento run offAHP-how-uhn0.006%
1167herkommento come fromHEHR-kaw-muhn0.006%
1169badento batheBAH-duhn0.006%
1171verlangento demandfehr-LAH-nguhn0.006%
1173vertragento get alongfehrt-RAH-guhn0.006%
1175auftauchento show upOWF-tow-khuhn0.006%
1190aufgebento give upOWF-gay-buhn0.006%
1191befindento be locatedbuh-FIHN-duhn0.006%
1192grabento digGRAH-buhn0.006%
1196abholento pick upAHP-hoh-luhn0.006%
1205rauchento smokeROW-khuhn0.005%
1219unterhaltento entertain/converseuun-ter-HAHL-tuhn0.005%
1222anziehento put on (clothes)AHN-tsee-uhn0.005%
1223beendento endbuh-EHN-duhn0.005%
1224klopfento knockKLAW-pfuhn0.005%
1233klauento steal (informal)KLOW-uhn0.005%
1255vergebento forgivefehr-GAY-buhn0.005%
1258verbringento spend (time)fehrb-RIH-nguhn0.005%
1259ausgehento go outOWS-gay-uhn0.005%
1260schenkento give (as gift)SHEHNG-kuhn0.005%
1267reißento tearREYE-suhn0.005%
1279seufztsighsZAW-uhftst0.005%
1285grüßento greetGREW-suhn0.005%
1287entkommento escapeehnt-KAW-muhn0.005%
1292probierento tryproh-BEE-ruhn0.005%
1294drückento pressDREW-kuhn0.005%
1298lächelnto smileLEH-khuhln0.005%
1302mitkommento come alongMIHT-kaw-muhn0.005%
1303wehtunto hurtVAY-toon0.005%

Learn these in the order you'll actually hear them

Lernlang teaches the most common words first, and its placement test skips the ones you already know. Six languages, free to start.

Get Lernlang