German verb conjugation

Present-tense tables for the 18 German verbs you need first, with the meaning of each and a note on what makes it tricky.

• sein to be · A1 · irregular
• haben to have · A1 · irregular
• werden to become · A2 · irregular
• können can / to be able to · A1 · modal
• müssen must / to have to · A1 · modal
• wollen to want · A1 · modal
• dürfen may / to be allowed to · A2 · modal
• möchten would like · A1 · modal
• wissen to know (a fact) · A1 · irregular
• sprechen to speak · A1 · stem-changing
• fahren to drive / to go (by vehicle) · A1 · stem-changing
• lesen to read · A1 · stem-changing
• nehmen to take · A1 · stem-changing
• essen to eat · A1 · stem-changing
• arbeiten to work · A1 · regular
• heißen to be called · A1 · regular
• aufstehen to get up · A2 · separable
• sich waschen to wash (oneself) · A2 · reflexive

Test yourself in the free conjugation tool