thelernen logothelernen
Start for free

Translation of German word "kaufen" to English

kaufen

/kaʊfn/

Meaning

Verb

To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language teamDefinition sourced from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0)

How to use

The weak verb kaufen ('to buy / purchase') conjugates regularly: ich kaufe, du kaufst, er kauft, hat gekauft. Note: the source translation is perfective 'to buy' (купить), but in German, it refers generally to purchasing (покупать). The related prefix verb einkaufen means 'to go shopping' (intransitive, separable, e.g., Ich gehe einkaufen).

🇬🇧 English

to buy

Example

Ich kaufe ein Buch in der Buchhandlung.

I'm buying a book in the bookstore.

Kannst du mir helfen, ein Geschenk zu kaufen?

Can you help me choose a gift?

Your personal vocabulary

🦊 Use this word in a live AI conversation

Synonyms

to acquire / purchase (formal)einkaufen

Common phrases

  • einkaufen gehento go shopping
  • frisch gekauftfreshly bought
  • eine Fahrkarte kaufento buy a ticket

🦊 Conjugation of the verb "kaufen"Full conjugation →

Present Tense (Präsens)

ich (I)kaufe
du (you)kaufst
er/sie/es (he/she/it)kauft
wir (we)kaufen
ihr (you pl.)kauft
sie/Sie (they/you formal)kaufen

Simple Past (Präteritum)

ich (I)kaufte
er/sie/es (he/she/it)kaufte

Perfect (Perfekt)

ich habe gekauft

Imperative (Imperativ)

dukauf(e)
ihrkauft
SieKaufen Sie

Frequency rank: #193 in German

🦊

Learn them all! 🚀

Master the 1000 most common German words with smart explanations, audio pronunciation, and spaced repetition.

Start Learning For Free →

No sign-up required

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the definition of the German word "kaufen"?

The German word "kaufen" is defined as: "To obtain (something) in exchange for money or goods."

What does the German word "kaufen" mean?

The German word "kaufen" means "to buy" in English.

How do you pronounce the German word "kaufen"?

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "kaufen" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "kaufen"?

Yes, here is a practical example: "Ich kaufe ein Buch in der Buchhandlung." (which translates as "I'm buying a book in the bookstore.").

More Core Verbs words

Related reading