The German Verb “Nehmen” with 16 Prefixes
In German, many verbs change their meaning when you add a prefix. One important verb with many variations is “nehmen”, which means “to take.” By adding different prefixes, you can create new verbs with unique meanings.
In this article, we’ll explore how “nehmen” changes with different prefixes and what each variation means. We’ll also provide examples to help you use these verbs in everyday conversations.
Basic Verb: Nehmen
At its core, “nehmen” means “to take.” You can use this verb in various everyday situations:
- Ich nehme den Bus zur Arbeit. → I take the bus to work.
- Sie nimmt eine Tasse Tee. → She takes a cup of tea.
- Nimm dir Zeit! → Take your time!
In its imperative form, “nehmen” changes depending on who you are addressing:
- Nimm es! (informal singular)
- Nehmen Sie es! (formal singular or plural)
- Nehmt es! (informal plural)
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16 Prefixes Used with “Nehmen”
Now, let’s explore how different prefixes transform the meaning of “nehmen.”
1) abnehmen (to take off, to lose weight)
Ich habe drei Kilo abgenommen. → I lost three kilos.
Kannst du bitte den Hut abnehmen? → Can you please take off your hat?
2) annehmen (to accept, to assume)
Ich nehme das Geschenk gerne an. → I gladly accept the gift.
Ich nehme an, dass du müde bist. → I assume that you’re tired.
3) aufnehmen (to record, to take in, to admit)
Der Verein nimmt neue Mitglieder auf. → The club is admitting new members.
Die Gastfamilie hat mich herzlich aufgenommen. → The host family warmly welcomed me.
Ich habe ein Video aufgenommen. → I recorded a video.
4) einnehmen (to take medicine, to occupy, to earn)
Du musst die Tabletten dreimal am Tag einnehmen. → You must take the pills three times a day.
Die Truppen haben die Stadt eingenommen. → The troops occupied the city.
Wie viel Geld hast du gestern eingenommen? → How much money did you earn yesterday?
5) entnehmen (to take out, to extract, to infer)
Er hat das Geld aus der Kasse entnommen. → He took the money out of the cash register.
Der Journalist hat die Zitate aus dem Interview entnommen. → The journalist took the quotes from the interview.
Ich entnehme deinen Worten, dass du nicht interessiert bist. → I infer from your words that you’re not interested.
6) mitnehmen (to take along, to take away)
Kann ich meinen Hund mitnehmen? → Can I take my dog along?
Ich nehme eine Pizza zum Mitnehmen. → I’ll take a pizza to go.
7) übernehmen (to take over, to assume responsibility)
Er hat die Firma seines Vaters übernommen. → He took over his father’s company.
Ich übernehme die Verantwortung. → I take responsibility.
8) unternehmen (to undertake, to do)
Was wollen wir am Wochenende unternehmen? → What do we want to do this weekend?
Die Firma unternimmt große Investitionen. → The company is making large investments.
9) vernehmen (to hear, to perceive, to interrogate)
Ich habe ein seltsames Geräusch vernommen. → I heard a strange noise.
Der Verdächtige wurde von der Polizei vernommen. → The suspect was interrogated by the police.
10) wegnehmen (to take away)
Der Lehrer nahm ihm das Handy weg. → The teacher took away his phone.
11) zunehmen (to gain weight, to increase)
Ich habe zwei Kilo zugenommen. → I gained two kilos.
Der Verkehr nimmt morgens stark zu. → Traffic increases a lot in the morning.
12) zurücknehmen (to take back, to retract)
Ich nehme meine Aussage zurück. → I take back my statement.
Der Händler hat die beschädigte Ware zurückgenommen. → The seller took back the damaged goods.
13) zusammenreißen (to pull oneself together)
Du musst dich jetzt zusammenreißen! → You have to pull yourself together now!
14) festnehmen (to arrest, to detain)
Die Polizei hat den Täter festgenommen. → The police arrested the perpetrator.
15) durchnehmen (to go through, to cover in class)
Heute nehmen wir ein neues Thema durch. → Today we’re going through a new topic.
Conclusion
The verb “nehmen” and its prefixes help you describe many different actions—like taking medicine, taking responsibility, losing weight, or gaining weight. Learning these variations will make your German much stronger.
Want to learn more? Check out our other articles on German verbs with prefixes!
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