Translation of German word "geben" to English
geben
/ɡeːbən/
Meaning
VerbTo move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere. To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone).
How to use
The strong verb geben ('to give') changes its vowel in singular present: ich gebe, du gibst, er gibt. Past forms: gab, hat gegeben. The impersonal construction es gibt ('there is / there are') is extremely common and always requires the accusative case (Es gibt einen Hund — There is a dog).
🇬🇧 English
to give
Example
Als sie fragten, gab ich meinen Mantel.
When they asked, I gave my coat.
Ich werde meiner Frau zum Geburtstag eine Halskette schenken.
I'm going to give my wife a necklace for her birthday.
Your personal vocabulary
🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversationSynonyms
Common phrases
- es gibt— there is / there are
- sich Mühe geben— to make an effort / try hard (requires reflexive dative)
- Bescheid geben— to let know / inform / notify
This concept in other languages
📖 Related grammar
🦊 Conjugation of the verb "geben"Full conjugation →
Present Tense (Präsens)
Simple Past (Präteritum)
Perfect (Perfekt)
ich habe gegeben
Imperative (Imperativ)
Frequency rank: #166 in German
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the definition of the German word "geben"?▼
The German word "geben" is defined as: "To move, shift, provide something abstract or concrete to someone or something or somewhere. To transfer one's possession or holding of (something) to (someone)."
What does the German word "geben" mean?▼
The German word "geben" means "to give" in English.
How do you pronounce the German word "geben"?▼
You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "geben" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.
Can I see an example sentence with "geben"?▼
Yes, here is a practical example: "Man gibt dem Kind ein Geschenk." (which translates as "When they asked, I gave my coat.").
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