tun
to do (something) · to put
Tun means 'to do' and is a common, everyday verb. In spoken German it often replaces 'machen' in informal contexts, but in writing 'machen' is usually preferred. It also appears in fixed phrases like 'es tut mir leid' (I'm sorry) and 'wehtun' (to hurt).
What tun means
- to do (something) — General action, often interchangeable with 'machen' but more colloquial.
- to put — Informal for placing something somewhere, e.g., 'in die Mikrowelle tun'.
Heard in real German videos
Lines where tun was actually spoken, from German videos watched with DeutschChat.
- Was soll ich bloß tun?What am I supposed to do?
- Soll ich die kurz in die Mikrowelle tun?Should I pop it in the microwave briefly?
- Tut mir leid, ehrlich.I'm sorry, honestly.
Example sentences
- Was soll ich tun?What should I do?
- Er tut den ganzen Tag nichts.He does nothing all day.
- Tu das nicht!Don't do that!
- Es tut mir leid.I'm sorry.
Grammar
| Present (ich/du/er) | tue, tust, tut |
|---|---|
| Simple past | tat |
| Perfect | hat getan |
| Separable | no |
| Case | accusative (direct object) |
The subjunctive form 'täte' is sometimes used in colloquial speech instead of 'würde tun', but it's considered non-standard in writing.
Common phrases
- es tut mir leidI'm sorry
- wehtunto hurt
- so tun als obto pretend
- viel zu tun habento be busy
- nichts mit etwas zu tun habento have nothing to do with
The mistake English speakers make
English speakers often overuse 'tun' as an auxiliary verb, e.g., 'Tust du das mögen?' instead of 'Magst du das?'. In German, questions and negations do not require 'do' as an auxiliary.
Don’t confuse it with
- machen — 'Machen' is more common and standard for 'to do/make', while 'tun' is often more colloquial or used in fixed expressions.
Questions learners ask
What is the difference between 'tun' and 'machen'?
Both mean 'to do', but 'machen' is more common and standard. 'Tun' is often used in spoken German, in certain fixed expressions, and when referring to an unspecified action.
How do you conjugate 'tun' in the present tense?
ich tue, du tust, er/sie/es tut, wir tun, ihr tut, sie tun.
Is 'tun' a separable verb?
No, 'tun' is not separable. However, it appears in compound verbs like 'wehtun' and 'leidtun', which are separable.