Inseparable prefixes

Inseparable prefix verbs are verbs whose initial syllable is never detached from the verb root in any tense or
conjugated form. These are always unstressed syllables and usually, though not always, are morphemes (i.e.
units of meaning) that cannot stand as separate words. Prefixes that are always inseparable are: be-, emp-,
ent-, er-, ge-, miss-, ver-, & zer-. The most common of these is ver-.

Though the meanings of these prefixes are not fixed, they encompass a range of connotations that can be
described in general categories. These delineations are not exhaustive and do not include every possible
meaning of a prefix, but can be helpful in understanding the gist of a verb.

Prefix Meaning Examples

be- 1) Makes intransitive verbs or verbs with
prepositional objects transitive, or shifts the
action to a different object.
2) Added to nouns to create verbs with the idea
of providing something. (Often -ig- is added.)
3) Added to adjectives to create verbs with the
idea of bestowing that quality. (Often -ig- is
added.)
Note: Approximately 25% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with be-.
ent- 1) Added to verbs to convey the idea of
escaping or moving away.
2) Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or
verbs. Indicates the removal of something.
ent- often corresponds to English un-, de- or
dis-.
Note: Approximately 15% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ent-.
emp- A variation of ent- that is used before some
verb roots beginning with f.
er- 1) Creates verbs from nouns or other verbs.
Conveys the conclusion or end achievement of
an action.
2) Creates verbs from adjectives. Conveys the
idea of becoming something or giving
something a quality. Often adds an umlaut to
the root, where possible.
Note: Approximately 10% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with er-.
ge- ge- is rare as a verb prefix. It carries no distinct
meaning. In many instances, the root verb is
linguistically extinct.
miss- Like the English prefix mis-, the German miss-
indicates failure. It creates a verb that stands as
a negative opposite to its positive or neutral
root.
ver- 1) Added to verbs to express idea of
completion, waning, or going away.
2) Added to verbs to express the idea of doing
something to excess or wrongly, or to convey
the opposite meaning from its root.
3) Creates verbs from adjectives or nouns that
convey the idea of becoming something or
zaubern - to do magic | bezaubern - to enchant
Ich beantworte die Frage. (Ich antworte auf die Frage.)
Er beschenkt Sie. ( Er schenkt Ihnen etwas.)
die Nachricht message | benachrichtigento notify
die Waffe weapon | bewaffnento arm
ruhig quiet, still | beruhigento calm
taub numb | betäubento numb, drug
trüb dreary | betrübento sadden
fliehen to flee | entfliehento escape, flee (from)
kommen to come | entkommento escape, come away (from)
laden to load | entladento unload
decken to cover | entdeckento discover
fern far | entfernento remove, delete
die Fessel chain | entfesselnto unchain
fehlen to be lacking | empfehlento recommend
finden to find | empfindento perceive, sense
finden to find | erfindento invent
lernen to learn | erlernento learn, acquire
trinken to drink | ertrinkento drown
ganz whole | ergänzento complete
niedrig low | erniedrigento humiliate
neu new | erneuernto renew, revive
fallen to fall | gefallento be pleasing
--- | geschehen to occur
--- | gelingen to succeed
-- | misslingento fail
fallen to fall | missfallento displease
billigen to approve | missbilligento disapprove
handeln to act | misshandelnto maltreat, abuse
brennen to burn | verbrennenburn (to ashes, to death), scorch
hungern to be hungry | verhungernto starve
geben to give | vergebento give away
jagen to hunt | verjagento chase away
lernen to learn | verlernento unlearn, forget
führen to lead | verführento seduce
achten to esteem | verachtento despise
bergen to salvage | verbergento conceal, hide
Deutsch | verdeutschento translate into German
der Stein stone | versteinernto turn to stone
 giving something a quality.
4) Creates verbs from nouns to convey the idea
of providing something.
Note: Approximately 45% of all inseparable prefix verbs begin with ver-.
zer- Creates verbs from nouns, adjectives, or other
verbs to indicate destruction, usually "into
pieces".
die Ursache cause | verursachento cause
einfach simple | vereinfachento simplify
deutlich clear | verdeutlichento elucidate
das Silber silver | versilbernto silver plate
der Körper body | verkörpernto embody
das Glied member, limb | zergliedernto dismember
klein small | zerkleinernto reduce to small bits
stören to bother | zerstörento destroy
teilen to divide | zerteilento disperse

There are a handful of prefixes which may be separable or inseparable. These include: durch-, über-, um-,
and unter-.