Strong Verbs

Strong Verbs, Listed Alphabetically
with Approximate Meanings
(Note that only the common stems are listed,
e.g. fangen but not anfangen, etc.)
Click on any verb to see its principal parts.

backen = to bake
befehlen = to command
beginnen = to begin
beißen = to bite
betrügen = to cheat
beweisen = to prove
biegen = to bend
bieten = to offer
binden = to tie, bind
bitten = to request
blasen = to blow
bleiben = to remain
braten = to roast, fry
brennen = to burn
bringen = to bring

denken = to think
dürfen = to be allowed to

erschrecken = to be suddenly frightened
essen = to eat

fahren = to drive, ride in a wheeled conveyance
fallen = to fall
fangen = to catch
finden = to find
fliegen = to fly
fliehen = to flee
fließen = to flow
fressen = to eat [used for animals]
frieren = to freeze

geben = to give
gehen = to go
gelingen = to succeed
gelten = to be valid
genesen = to recover from an illness
genießen = to enjoy
geschehen = to happen
gewinnen = to win
gießen = to pour
gleichen = to be the same as
gleiten = to glide
graben = to dig
greifen = to grasp

haben = to have
halten = to hold; to stop
hängen = to hang
heben = to lift
heißen = to be called
helfen = to help

kennen = to be acquainted with
klingen = to sound
kommen = to come
können = to be able to; can
kneifen = to pinch
kriechen = to crawl

laden = to load
lassen = to leave; to let; to have (something done)
laufen = to run; to walk
leiden = to suffer
leihen = to lend
lesen = to read
liegen = to be in a lying position
löschen = to extinguish
lügen = to lie, tell a lie

meiden = to avoid
messen = to measure
mögen = to like
müssen = to have to; must

nehmen = to take
nennen = to name

pfeifen = to whistle
preisen = to praise

raten = to guess; to advise
reiben = to rub
rennen = to run, race
riechen = to smell
reißen = to rip
reiten = to ride (on an animal)
rufen = to call

saufen = to drink [used for animals]
scheiden = to part
scheinen = to seem; to shine
schelten = to scold
schieben = to push
schießen = to shoot
scheißen = to shit
schlafen = to sleep
schlagen = to hit
schleifen = to polish
schließen = to close
schmelzen = to melt
schneiden = to cut
schreiben = to write
schreien = to shout; to scream
schreiten = to step, stride
schweigen = to be silent
schwimmen = to swim; to float
schwingen = to swing
schwören = to swear
sehen = to see
sein = to be
senden = to send
singen = to sing
sinken = to sink
sitzen = to sit
sollen = to be supposed to; should
spinnen = to spin
sprechen = to speak
springen = to jump
stechen = to stab
stehen = to stand
stehlen = to steal
steigen = to climb
stießen = to push
sterben = to die
stinken = to stink
streichen = to paint
streiten = to quarrel

tragen = to carry
treffen = to meet
treiben = to drive (with force); to engage in (an activity)
trinken = to drink
tun = to do

verderben = to spoil
vergessen = to forget
verlieren = to lose
verschwinden = to disappear
verzeihen = to forgive

wachsen = to grow
waschen = to wash
weichen = to yield to
wenden = to turn
werben = to advertise
werden = to become
werfen = to throw
wiegen = to weigh
winden = to wind, twist
wissen = to know
wollen = to want; will

ziehen = to pull
zwingen = to compel