10 Falsche Freunde bei Verben

Maybe this has already happened to you: you use a German verb and are sure it means the same thing as in English - and everyone around you is confused.

Don't worry - it happens to every German learner, and of course, it also happens to us Germans when we speak English.

That's why today we're looking at 10 “false friends” of verbs.

I'll explain the most important examples so that you won't have any more misunderstandings in the future.

1. Blamieren vs. to blame

In German, blamieren means to embarrass oneself or another person. It sounds like the English to blame, but it has a completely different meaning:

• Er hat sich vor allen Leuten blamiert. – He embarrassed himself in front of everyone.

• Warum musst du mich immer blamieren? – Why do you always have to embarrass me?

The Englishe to blame is in German beschuldigen:

• Der Chef beschuldigt mich. – The boss blames me.

2. Fasten vs. to fasten

In German, we speak of fasten when we decide to go without food for a while.

• Viele Menschen fasten vor Ostern. – Many people fast before Easter.

• Nach den Feiertagen möchte ich eine Woche fasten. – After the holidays, I want to fast for a week.

The English word to fasten, on the other hand, means befestigen or festmachen:

• Fasten your seatbelt! – Schnallen Sie sich an!

3. Graben vs. to grab

The German graben means to dig a hole, for example in the garden

• Ich möchte eine Blume einpflanzen, also muss ich ein Loch graben. – I want to plant a flower, so I have to dig a hole.

  

  
  

The English to grab means in German greifen oder sich schnappen:

• Grab a cup of coffee. – Schnapp dir eine Tasse Kaffee.

4. Mobben vs. to mob

The German mobben can be translated to jemanden schikanieren or ärgern.

• In der Schule wird er von anderen Kindern gemobbt. – At school, he is bullied by other kids.

• Cybermobbing bedeutet Cyberbullying.

The English to mob describes when a group jemanden umringt or bedrängt:

• The fans mobbed the actor. – Die Fans umringten den Schauspieler.

5. Picken – to pick

The German word picken is often used in connection with birds:

• Die Hühner picken die Körner vom Boden. – The chickens are pecking the grains from the ground.

  
  

  

  
  

There's a saying:

• Sich die Rosinen aus dem Kuchen picken. – To cherry-pick the best things.

The English to pick means to auswählen or pflücken:

• Pick flowers. – Blumen pflücken.

6. Prüfen vs. to prove

The German word prüfen means etwas kontrollieren or genau ansehen.

• Ich muss den Reifendruck prüfen. – I need to check the tire pressure.

• Der Lehrer prüft die Schüler. – The teacher tests the students.

The English to prove can be translated as beweisen:

• He must prove his innocence. – Er muss seine Unschuld beweisen.

7. Reklamieren vs. to reclaim

In German, we use reklamieren if we want to complain about something:

• Ich habe einen defekten Computer gekauft und möchte ihn reklamieren. – I bought a defective computer and want to complain.

The English to reclaim , on the other hand, means, etwas zurückholen:

• You can reclaim your luggage at the counter. – Sie können Ihr Gepäck am Schalter abholen.

8. Spenden vs. to spend

The German spenden means to give something for a good cause.

• Wir haben Geld für die Organisation gespendet. – We donated money to the organization.

The English to spend means Geld ausgeben:

• I spent a lot of money. – Ich habe viel Geld ausgegeben.

9. Spinnen vs. to spin

The German word spinnen has several meanings. It can mean:

• Die Spinne spinnt ein Netz. – The spider spins a web.

  

• Du spinnst doch! – You’re crazy!

• Das Internet spinnt schon wieder. – The internet is acting up again.

The English word to spin means in German sich drehen:

• The wheels are spinning. – Die Räder drehen sich.

10. Studieren vs. to study

The German word studieren means to be enrolled at a university and to study a subject there.

• Lena studiert Medizin in München. – Lena is studying medicine in Munich.

  
  

  

  
  

The English word to study means lernen in German:

• I’m studying for the exam. – Ich lerne für die Prüfung.

Here is an overview of all ten false friends for verbs:

1. blamieren (embarrass) ≠ to blame (beschuldigen)

2. fasten (nicht essen) ≠ to fasten (befestigen)

3. graben (dig) ≠ to grab (greifen)

4. mobben (bully) ≠ to mob (umringen)

5. picken (peck) ≠ to pick (auswählen, pflücken)

6. prüfen (check) ≠ to prove (beweisen)

7. reklamieren (complain) ≠ to reclaim (zurückholen)

8. spenden (donate) ≠ to spend (ausgeben)

9. spinnen (crazy/spin threads) ≠ to spin (sich drehen)

10. studieren (university study) ≠ to study (lernen)