100 Most Common German Verbs with English Translations

Learning German becomes so much easier once you know the most common verbs: they’re the backbone of everyday conversation.

Whether you’re just starting out or brushing up your grammar, this list will help you understand and use German verbs naturally.

In this article, you’ll find:

• the 100 most useful verbs for daily life

• clear English translations

• practical examples for A1–B1 learners

• pronunciation and learning tips

Section 1: Why verbs matter

German verbs are the ❤️ of every sentence.

Once you can recognise patterns - like spielen, lernen, essen, gehen - you’ll start forming sentences much faster.

The key: learn the verbs in context instead of memorising them alone.

Quick tip: Always learn verbs together with ich and er/sie/es forms.

Example:

> ich gehe – er geht → to go

> ich spiele – er spielt → to play

100 Common German Verbs (A1–B1)

Here’s your complete list; grouped by topic for easier learning.

Everyday actions

gehen – to go

kommen – to come

machen – to do / make

sehen – to see

sprechen – to speak

hören – to hear

arbeiten – to work

bleiben – to stay

leben – to live

lernen – to learn

Eating & drinking

essen – to eat

trinken – to drink

kochen – to cook

backen – to bake

probieren – to try

bestellen – to order

schmecken – to taste

frühstücken – to have breakfast

bezahlen – to pay

servieren – to serve

Daily life

haben – to have

sein – to be

wohnen – to live (reside)

öffnen – to open

schließen – to close

sitzen – to sit

stehen – to stand

legen – to lay

stellen – to put / place

nehmen – to take

Movement & travel

fahren – to drive / go

fliegen – to fly

laufen – to run / walk

reisen – to travel

klettern – to climb

fallen – to fall

treffen – to meet

kommen – to come

bringen – to bring

tragen – to carry / wear

Feelings & thinking

mögen – to like

lieben – to love

denken – to think

glauben – to believe

wissen – to know (facts)

kennen – to know (people)

fühlen – to feel

hoffen – to hope

vergessen – to forget

erinnern – to remember

Time & routine

beginnen – to begin

enden – to end

warten – to wait

helfen – to help

brauchen – to need

versuchen – to try

verstehen – to understand

schreiben – to write

lesen – to read

sagen – to say

…and many more that you’ll meet every day as you progress!

Section 3: Learning tips

1. Create mini-lists (10 verbs / week) and review them daily.

2. Say them aloud – it helps pronunciation and memory.

3. Use colour codes: green = regular verbs, red = irregular.

4. Practise in short sentences:

– Ich gehe nach Hause.

– Ich esse Pizza.

– Ich spiele Fußball.

Section 4: Next steps

Now that you know the 100 most common German verbs, it’s time to practise!