nehmen
to take (grab, pick up, or accept something) · to choose or select · to use (a means of transport, a route, etc.) · to take (time, effort, etc.)
Nehmen means 'to take' in a broad sense: to grab, choose, or accept something. It is one of the most common German verbs and is used in many everyday situations, from taking an object to taking a bus or taking time.
What nehmen means
- to take (grab, pick up, or accept something) — General use for physically taking or accepting an object.
- to choose or select — When deciding between options, e.g., in a restaurant or shop.
- to use (a means of transport, a route, etc.) — With vehicles or paths, e.g., den Bus nehmen.
- to take (time, effort, etc.) — With abstract nouns like Zeit (time) or Rücksicht (consideration).
Heard in real German videos
Lines where nehmen was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Nehmen Sie einfach nur die Pizza.Just take the pizza.
- Welche Suppe soll ich nehmen, Peppa?Which soup should I take, Peppa?
- Nimm einfach deine Finger.Just use your fingers.
Example sentences
- Ich nehme einen Kaffee, bitte.I'll take a coffee, please.
- Nimmst du den Bus oder die Bahn?Are you taking the bus or the train?
- Er hat sich Zeit genommen.He took his time.
- Wir nehmen den Aufzug.We'll take the elevator.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | nehme / nimmst / nimmt |
|---|---|
| Simple past | nahm |
| Perfect | hat genommen |
| Separable | no |
| Case | accusative |
The stem vowel changes from e to i in the du and er/sie/es forms: du nimmst, er nimmt.
Common phrases
- etwas ernst nehmento take something seriously
- jemanden auf den Arm nehmento pull someone's leg
- sich Zeit nehmento take one's time
- in Kauf nehmento accept (a disadvantage)
- Abschied nehmento say goodbye
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often confuse nehmen with holen. Nehmen means 'to take' something that is already there, while holen means 'to fetch' or 'go and get' something from elsewhere.
Don’t confuse it with
- holen — Holen means to fetch or go and get something, while nehmen means to take something that is already available.
- greifen — Greifen means to grab or reach for something, often with the hand, while nehmen is more general and can mean to take, choose, or accept.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between nehmen and mitnehmen?
Nehmen means 'to take' in general, while mitnehmen means 'to take along' or 'to bring with you'.
How do you conjugate nehmen in the present tense?
ich nehme, du nimmst, er/sie/es nimmt, wir nehmen, ihr nehmt, sie/Sie nehmen.
Is nehmen a strong or weak verb?
Nehmen is a strong verb: nehmen - nahm - genommen.