This is a good place for beginners to find the most useful German verbs to learn. The list is based on frequency of use across fiction, non-fiction and spoken German.
Irregular verbs are shown in red.
Click on the icon next to the verb to hear the pronunciation.
| # | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | sein | to be |
| 2 | haben | to have |
| 3 | werden | to become, get |
| 4 | können | to be able to, can |
| 5 | müssen | to have to, must |
| 6 | sagen | to say |
| 7 | machen | to do, make |
| 8 | geben | to give |
| 9 | kommen | to come |
| 10 | sollen | should, ought to |
| 11 | wollen | to want to |
| 12 | gehen | to go |
| 13 | wissen | to know |
| 14 | sehen | to see |
| 15 | lassen | to let, allow, have done |
| 16 | stehen | to stand |
| 17 | finden | to find |
| 18 | bleiben | to stay, remain |
| 19 | liegen | to lie |
| 20 | heißen | to be called |
| 21 | denken | to think |
| 22 | nehmen | to take |
| 23 | tun | to do |
| 24 | dürfen | to be allowed, may |
| 25 | glauben | to believe |
| 26 | halten | to stop, hold |
| 27 | nennen | to name, call |
| 28 | mögen | to like |
| 29 | zeigen | to show |
| 30 | führen | to lead |
| 31 | sprechen | to speak |
| 32 | bringen | to bring, take |
| 33 | leben | to live |
| 34 | fahren | to drive, ride, go |
| 35 | meinen | to think, have an opinion |
| 36 | fragen | to ask |
| 37 | kennen | to know |
| 38 | gelten | to be valid |
| 39 | stellen | to place, set |
| 40 | spielen | to play |
| 41 | arbeiten | to work |
| 42 | brauchen | to need |
| 43 | folgen | to follow |
| 44 | lernen | to learn |
| 45 | bestehen | to exist, insist, pass (an exam) |
| 46 | verstehen | to understand |
| 47 | setzen | to set, place, put |
| 48 | bekommen | to get, receive |
| 49 | beginnen | to begin |
| 50 | erzählen | to tell |