German Separable Verbs: Rules, List & Practice Exercises

If you have started learning German, you have probably encountered verbs that seem to break apart in sentences. Welcome to the world of German separable verbs (trennbare Verben) — one of the most distinctive features of German grammar. While they might seem confusing at first, separable verbs follow clear, predictable rules. Once you understand how they work, they actually make German more logical and expressive.

In this guide, you will learn exactly what separable verbs are, how to recognize them, when they split, and how to use them confidently in every tense and clause type. We have also included a list of over 20 essential separable verbs and practice tips to help you master them.

What Are German Separable Verbs?

Separable verbs are verbs made up of two parts: a base verb and a prefix. In their infinitive form (the dictionary form), these parts are joined together as one word. However, in certain sentence structures, the prefix detaches from the verb and moves to the end of the sentence.

For example, take the verb aufstehen (to get up):

• Infinitive: aufstehen
• In a sentence: Ich stehe jeden Morgen um 7 Uhr auf. (I get up every morning at 7.)

Notice how auf has traveled to the very end of the sentence, while stehe (the conjugated base verb) sits in the second position. This splitting behavior is what makes these verbs "separable."

If you are new to German grammar, our German grammar for beginners guide provides a helpful foundation before diving into separable verbs.

What Is the Rule for Separable Verbs in German?

The core rule is straightforward: separable verbs split when they are the main (and only) verb in a main clause. The conjugated base verb takes the second position in the sentence, and the prefix moves to the very end.

Here is the pattern:

Subject + conjugated verb + ... + separable prefix.

Examples:

• Er räumt sein Zimmer auf. (He tidies up his room.)
• Wir fangen um 9 Uhr an. (We start at 9 o'clock.)
• Sie kauft im Supermarkt ein. (She shops at the supermarket.)

The prefix always goes to the absolute end of the clause — after all objects, adverbs, and prepositional phrases. Think of it as a grammatical bookend that closes the sentence.

For a deeper look at how verbs behave in the present tense, check out our German present tense conjugation guide.

How Do You Know if a German Verb Is Separable?

The most reliable way to identify a separable verb is through stress. If the stress falls on the prefix, the verb is separable. If the stress falls on the verb stem, it is inseparable.

Compare:

• ANrufen (to call) — stress on an → separable
• überSETzen (to translate) — stress on set → inseparable

In practice, most learners rely on recognizing the prefix itself. Certain prefixes are always separable, while others are always inseparable, and a small group can go either way.

Always Separable Prefixes

These prefixes always create separable verbs:

Always Inseparable Prefixes

For reference, these prefixes never separate: be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-.

Dual Prefixes

Some prefixes can be either separable or inseparable depending on the verb and meaning: durch-, über-, um-, unter-, wider-, wieder-. Context and stress determine whether they split.

What Are the Most Common Separable Prefixes in German?

The ten most frequently used separable prefixes are:

1. an- (on, at): anfangen (to begin), anrufen (to call)
2. auf- (up, open): aufstehen (to get up), aufhören (to stop)
3. aus- (out): ausgeben (to spend), aussehen (to look/appear)
4. ein- (in, into): einkaufen (to shop), einschlafen (to fall asleep)
5. ab- (off, away): abholen (to pick up), abgeben (to hand in)
6. mit- (with, along): mitbringen (to bring along), mitmachen (to participate)
7. zu- (to, closed): zuhören (to listen), zunehmen (to gain weight)
8. vor- (before, forward): vorbereiten (to prepare), vorschlagen (to suggest)
9. zurück- (back): zurückgeben (to give back), zurückfahren (to drive back)
10. weg- (away): wegwerfen (to throw away), wegnehmen (to take away)

Each prefix adds a specific directional or conceptual meaning to the base verb. Learning these prefix meanings is one of the fastest ways to expand your German vocabulary — you can often guess the meaning of a new separable verb if you know the base verb and the prefix.

List of 25 Common German Separable Verbs

Here are 25 essential separable verbs every learner should know, organized by level:

Beginner (A1)

Elementary (A2)

Intermediate (B1)

Want to practice these verbs in action? Try our Word Scramble game where you can rearrange verb parts and prefixes to build correct sentences, or test your speed with Type Rush to type separable verbs as fast as you can.

How Separable Verbs Behave in Subordinate Clauses

Here is where things get easier. In subordinate clauses (introduced by conjunctions like weil, dass, wenn, obwohl), separable verbs do not split. They stay together as one word, and the entire verb moves to the end of the clause.

Examples:

• Ich bin müde, weil ich früh aufstehe. (I am tired because I get up early.)
• Er sagt, dass er morgen ankommt. (He says that he arrives tomorrow.)
• Ich weiß nicht, wann der Film anfängt. (I don't know when the film starts.)

This is actually simpler than the main clause rule — the verb just stays together. The key is remembering that subordinate clauses push the verb to the end.

Separable Verbs in the Perfekt (Past Tense)

When forming the Perfekt (conversational past tense), separable verbs have a special rule for the past participle: the -ge- marker goes between the prefix and the verb stem.

The pattern is: prefix + ge + verb stem + t/en

Examples:

Compare this with inseparable verbs, where ge- is omitted entirely (besuchen → besucht, verstehen → verstanden).

For a complete overview of the Perfekt tense, including regular and irregular forms, see our German past tense Perfekt guide.

Separable Verbs with Modal Verbs

When a separable verb appears with a modal verb (können, müssen, wollen, sollen, dürfen, mögen), the separable verb goes to the end of the sentence in its infinitive form — unseparated.

• Ich muss früh aufstehen. (I have to get up early.)
• Kannst du mich morgen anrufen? (Can you call me tomorrow?)
• Wir wollen heute Abend ausgehen. (We want to go out tonight.)

The modal verb takes the second position and gets conjugated, while the separable verb stays whole at the end. For more on modal verbs, visit our German modal verbs guide.

Separable Verbs in Imperative (Commands)

In commands, the prefix still separates and goes to the end:

• Steh sofort auf! (Get up immediately!)
• Ruf mich an! (Call me!)
• Mach die Tür zu! (Close the door!)
• Hör damit auf! (Stop that!)

Tips for Mastering German Separable Verbs

1. Learn verbs with their prefix as a unit. When you learn a new separable verb, always memorize it with an example sentence so you see how it splits.

2. Focus on the ten key prefixes. Knowing what an-, auf-, aus-, ein-, ab-, mit-, zu-, vor-, zurück-, and weg- mean will help you decode hundreds of verbs.

3. Listen for stress. Native speakers stress the prefix of separable verbs. Training your ear to hear this will help you identify them in conversation.

4. Practice with games. Interactive practice is one of the best ways to internalize separable verb patterns. Our Word Scramble game lets you practice placing prefixes correctly, and Type Rush builds speed and muscle memory.

5. Test yourself with quizzes. Try our verb conjugation quizzes and grammar quizzes to check your understanding of separable verb rules.

Practice Makes Perfect

Separable verbs are one of those German grammar topics that seem tricky on paper but become second nature with practice. The rules are consistent — verbs split in main clauses, stay together in subordinate clauses, and take -ge- between prefix and stem in the Perfekt.

The best approach is to combine reading and studying with active practice. Our German verb conjugation guide covers the broader conjugation system that separable verbs fit into.

Ready to put your knowledge to the test? Jump into our free German word games and start practicing separable verbs right now:

Play Word Scramble — Practice Prefix Placement

Play Type Rush — Build Verb Speed

Take a Verb Conjugation Quiz

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