Top 20 German Separable Verbs You Should Know

Once you know how separable verbs work, the fastest way forward is simply learning the ones you'll actually use. This lesson rounds up 20 of the most common and useful German separable verbs, each with an example so you can see it in action, not just in isolation. Why These 20 Verbs First Separable verbs are everywhere in everyday German, but a relatively small set covers a huge share of daily conversation — verbs for arriving, leaving, waking up, calling, and getting things started or finished. Learning this core set first means you'll recognize and use separable verbs constantly, rather than only in rare or advanced sentences. Putting Them to Work in Sentences Knowing a separable verb's meaning is only half the job — the other half is remembering to split the prefix off correctly in a main clause. For each of the 20 verbs, seeing a full example sentence, not just the infinitive, is what actually makes the pattern stick. Frequently Asked Questions What makes these 20 separable verbs worth learning first? They're among the most frequently used separable verbs in everyday spoken and written German, covering common actions like arriving, calling, waking up, and starting or finishing something. Do I need to know the grammar rules before learning this list? It helps to know the basics of how separable verbs split apart in a sentence first, so you can apply that pattern correctly to each new verb on this list. Is it enough to just memorize the infinitives? Not really — the real skill is using each verb correctly in a sentence, which means practicing where the prefix goes rather than only memorizing the verb in isolation. Are these verbs used in spoken German, written German, or both? Both — separable verbs like these appear constantly in everyday conversation as well as in writing, which is exactly why they're worth prioritizing. Where can I find more separable verbs beyond this list of 20? For a longer, more advanced list spanning A1 through B1, see our 50 Must-Know German Separable Verbs post.

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