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Courses from A1 to B2: short video lessons, quizzes and printable charts for every topic, in the right order.
See the coursesIf 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.
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):
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.
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:
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.
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:
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.
These prefixes always create separable verbs:
| Prefix | Meaning | Example Verb | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ab | off, away, down | abfahren | to depart |
| an | on, at, to | ankommen | to arrive |
| auf | up, open | aufmachen | to open |
| aus | out, off | ausgehen | to go out |
| ein | in, into | einladen | to invite |
| mit | with, along | mitkommen | to come along |
| nach | after, toward | nachdenken | to think about |
| vor | before, forward | vorstellen | to introduce |
| zu | to, closed | zumachen | to close |
| weg | away | weglaufen | to run away |
| zurück | back | zurückkommen | to come back |
| fest | firm, tight | festhalten | to hold tight |
| frei | free | freisprechen | to acquit |
| hin | there (away) | hinfallen | to fall down |
| her | here (toward) | herkommen | to come here |
For reference, these prefixes never separate: be-, emp-, ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, zer-.
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.
The ten most frequently used separable prefixes are:
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.
Here are 25 essential separable verbs every learner should know, organized by level:
| Verb | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | to get up | Ich stehe um 7 Uhr auf. |
| anfangen | to begin | Der Kurs fängt um 9 Uhr an. |
| ankommen | to arrive | Der Zug kommt um 10 Uhr an. |
| aufmachen | to open | Mach bitte das Fenster auf! |
| zumachen | to close | Er macht die Tür zu. |
| einkaufen | to shop | Wir kaufen am Samstag ein. |
| anrufen | to call (phone) | Ich rufe dich morgen an. |
| aufhören | to stop | Hör auf! (Stop it!) |
| mitkommen | to come along | Kommst du mit? |
| aufräumen | to tidy up | Räum dein Zimmer auf! |
| Verb | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| ausgehen | to go out | Wir gehen heute Abend aus. |
| einladen | to invite | Sie lädt ihre Freunde ein. |
| abholen | to pick up | Ich hole dich am Bahnhof ab. |
| vorstellen | to introduce | Darf ich mich vorstellen? |
| vorbereiten | to prepare | Er bereitet das Essen vor. |
| zurückkommen | to come back | Wann kommst du zurück? |
| mitbringen | to bring along | Bring bitte Milch mit! |
| einschlafen | to fall asleep | Das Kind schläft schnell ein. |
| fernsehen | to watch TV | Abends sehen wir fern. |
| nachdenken | to think about | Ich denke darüber nach. |
| Verb | Translation | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| stattfinden | to take place | Das Konzert findet morgen statt. |
| teilnehmen | to participate | Sie nimmt am Kurs teil. |
| vorschlagen | to suggest | Ich schlage einen Plan vor. |
| herausfinden | to find out | Wir finden die Wahrheit heraus. |
| weitermachen | to continue | Mach einfach weiter! |
Want to practice these verbs in action? Try our Word Scramble game where you can rearrange verb parts and prefixes to build correct sentences.
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:
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.
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:
| Infinitive | Past Participle | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | aufgestanden | Ich bin um 6 Uhr aufgestanden. |
| anfangen | angefangen | Der Film hat um 8 Uhr angefangen. |
| einkaufen | eingekauft | Sie hat gestern eingekauft. |
| anrufen | angerufen | Er hat mich angerufen. |
| aufräumen | aufgeräumt | Wir haben die Küche aufgeräumt. |
| zumachen | zugemacht | Hast du die Tür zugemacht? |
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.
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.
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.
In commands, the prefix still separates and goes to the end:
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.
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.
Listen for stress. Native speakers stress the prefix of separable verbs. Training your ear to hear this will help you identify them in conversation.
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.
Test yourself with quizzes. Try our verb conjugation quizzes and grammar quizzes to check your understanding of separable verb rules.
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
Deutschwunder offers free interactive games and quizzes designed to make German learning fun and effective. Whether you are working on vocabulary, grammar, or pronunciation, our tools help you practice the skills that matter most.