If you’re just getting started with German, one of the most important things to wrap your head around is verb conjugation. Today, we’re diving into the verbs “leben” (to live), “sprechen” (to speak), and “wohnen” (to reside/live). These verbs are super useful in everyday conversations, so let’s break them down, learn how to conjugate them, and get you comfortable using them in real-life situations! Ready? Let’s go! 🚀
1. The Basics of Verb Conjugation in German
Before we jump into the specifics of each verb, let’s quickly review how verb conjugation works in German. Unlike English, where verbs often don’t change much, in German, the ending of the verb changes depending on the subject (who is doing the action). Here’s a quick overview:
-
- Ich (I) → usually adds -e to the verb stem
-
- Du (You, informal) → usually adds -st
-
- Er/Sie/Es (He/She/It) → usually adds -t
-
- Wir (We) → usually adds -en
-
- Ihr (You all, informal) → usually adds -t
-
- Sie/sie (They/You, formal) → usually adds -en
Now, let’s apply these endings to conjugate the verbs leben, sprechen, and wohnen.
Here you can find the sein conjugation (Lesson 3)
2. Leben Conjugation (to live)
“Leben” is one of those verbs you’ll use a lot, especially when talking about where you live or describing life in general. Here’s how you conjugate it:
| German | English | Verb Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich lebe | I live | -e ending |
| Du lebst | You live | -st ending |
| Er/Sie/Es lebt | He/She/It lives | -t ending |
| Wir leben | We live | -en ending |
| Ihr lebt | You all live | -t ending |
| Sie/sie leben | They/You live | -en ending |
Example Sentences:
-
- Ich lebe in Berlin. (I live in Berlin.)
-
- Wo lebst du? (Where do you live?)
-
- Sie lebt in einem kleinen Dorf. (She lives in a small village.)
Quick Tip | Leben Conjugation:
“Leben” can also be used in a more abstract sense, like “to live a good life” – “Ein gutes Leben leben.” It’s versatile, so don’t be afraid to play around with it in different contexts!
3. Sprechen Conjugation (to speak)
Next up, “Sprechen” is all about communication. It’s the verb you’ll use to talk about speaking languages or just chatting with someone. Here’s how to conjugate it:
| German | English | Verb Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich spreche | I speak | -e ending |
| Du sprichst | You speak | -st ending, note vowel change (e → i) |
| Er/Sie/Es spricht | He/She/It speaks | -t ending, note vowel change (e → i) |
| Wir sprechen | We speak | -en ending |
| Ihr sprecht | You all speak | -t ending |
| Sie/sie sprechen | They/You speak | -en ending |
Example Sentences:
-
- Ich spreche Deutsch. (I speak German.)
-
- Sprichst du Englisch? (Do you speak English?)
-
- Er spricht sehr gut Spanisch. (He speaks Spanish very well.)
Quick Tip | Sprechen Conjugation:
Notice the vowel change in “sprechen” when conjugating du (you) and er/sie/es (he/she/it). This is common in some German verbs, so keep an eye out for similar patterns!
If you want to say I can speak… (ich kann… sprechen) you can jump to lesson 22 where we will learn about can and must do
4. Wohnen Conjugation (to reside/live)
“Wohnen” is often used when talking specifically about where someone lives, like their home or residence. It’s similar to “leben,” but with a more specific focus on the place where you live. Here’s how you conjugate it:
| German | English | Verb Conjugation |
|---|---|---|
| Ich wohne | I reside/live | -e ending |
| Du wohnst | You reside/live | -st ending |
| Er/Sie/Es wohnt | He/She/It resides/lives | -t ending |
| Wir wohnen | We reside/live | -en ending |
| Ihr wohnt | You all reside/live | -t ending |
| Sie/sie wohnen | They/You reside/live | -en ending |
Example Sentences:
-
- Ich wohne in München. (I live in Munich.)
-
- Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
-
- Wir wohnen in einem Haus. (We live in a house.)
Quick Tip | Wohnen Conjugation:
“Wohnen” often pairs with specific locations (like cities or types of housing), so it’s great to use when you want to give details about where you’re living.
5. Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
When learning these verbs, beginners often mix up “leben” and “wohnen” because both can mean “to live” in English. The key difference is context:
-
- Use “leben” when talking about life in a broader sense or where you live as part of your life story.
-
- Use “wohnen” specifically when referring to your place of residence.
6. Dialogues: Putting It All Together
How to use German Verbs: Leben, Wohnen and Sprechen Conjugation
Let’s put everything together in a few simple dialogues to show you how these verbs work in real conversations.
Dialogue 1: Talking About Where You Live
Person A:Â Wo wohnst du?
(Where do you live?)
Person B:Â Ich wohne in Hamburg. Und du?
(I live in Hamburg. And you?)
Person A:Â Ich wohne in Berlin, aber ich lebe gerne auf dem Land.
(I live in Berlin, but I like living in the countryside.)
Dialogue 2: Talking About Languages
Person A:Â Welche Sprachen sprichst du?
(What languages do you speak?)
Person B:Â Ich spreche Deutsch und Englisch. Und du?
(I speak German and English. And you?)
Person A:Â Ich spreche nur Deutsch, aber ich lerne Englisch.
(I only speak German, but I’m learning English.)
Dialogue 3: Talking About Life
Person A:Â Wie lebst du?
(How do you live?)
Person B:Â Ich lebe gesund und glĂĽcklich.
(I live healthily and happily.)
Person A:Â Das klingt toll! Ich lebe auch sehr bewusst.
(That sounds great! I also live very mindfully.)
7. Vocabulary List: Useful Words and Phrases
Leben, Wohnen, Sprechen: Conjugation in Use
Here’s a handy list of the words and phrases we’ve used in this post:
| German | English |
|---|---|
| Leben | To live |
| Sprechen | To speak |
| Wohnen | To reside/live |
| Ich lebe | I live |
| Du lebst | You live |
| Er/Sie/Es lebt | He/She/It lives |
| Wir leben | We live |
| Ihr lebt | You all live |
| Sie/sie leben | They/You live |
| Ich spreche | I speak |
| Du sprichst | You speak |
| Er/Sie/Es spricht | He/She/It speaks |
| Wir sprechen | We speak |
| Ihr sprecht | You all speak |
| Sie/sie sprechen | They/You speak |
| Ich wohne | I reside/live |
| Du wohnst | You reside/live |
| Er/Sie/Es wohnt | He/She/It resides/lives |
| Wir wohnen | We reside/live |
| Ihr wohnt | You all reside/live |
| Sie/sie wohnen | They/You reside/live |
| Wo wohnst du? | Where do you live? |
| Welche Sprachen sprichst du? | What languages do you speak? |
| Wie lebst du? | How do you live? |
8. Top 5 Questions Answered about Leben, Wohnen, Sprechen Conjugation
-
- What is the conjugation of “leben” in German?
The Leben Conjugation is: ich lebe, du lebst, er/sie/es lebt, wir leben, ihr lebt, sie/Sie leben.
- What is the conjugation of “leben” in German?
-
- How do you conjugate “sprechen” in German?
The Sprechen Conjugation is: ich spreche, du sprichst, er/sie/es spricht, wir sprechen, ihr sprecht, sie/Sie sprechen.
- How do you conjugate “sprechen” in German?
-
- What is the difference between “leben” and “wohnen” in German?
“Leben” refers to living in a general or broader sense, while “wohnen” specifically refers to residing or living in a particular place.
- What is the difference between “leben” and “wohnen” in German?
-
- Can you give examples using “wohnen” in German?
Sure! Ich wohne in Hamburg. (I live in Hamburg.) Wo wohnst du? (Where do you live?)
- Can you give examples using “wohnen” in German?
-
- What is the conjugation of “wohnen” in German?
The conjugation of “wohnen” is: ich wohne, du wohnst, er/sie/es wohnt, wir wohnen, ihr wohnt, sie/Sie wohnen.
- What is the conjugation of “wohnen” in German?
9. Conclusion
Congrats! 🎉 You’ve just taken a big step in mastering three essential German verbs: “leben”, “sprechen”, and “wohnen.” With the rules and examples we’ve covered, you’re now equipped to talk about where you live, what languages you speak, and more. Keep practicing these verbs, and soon they’ll become second nature. Happy learning! ✨
Â
Need more inspiration? Then check out our Instagram account!
Â