A characteristic feature of German is its ability to create verbs with new meanings through the

addition of prefixes to nouns, adjectives, or other verbs.

For example:

 aus + gehen = ausgehen - to go out

 ver + kaufen = verkaufen - to sell
German has two categories of prefixes: inseparable prefixes and separable prefixes. However,
few prefixes exist that can be used in either catgory.
Also, a verb could have more than one prefix, each giving a new verb with a different
meaning than the others. Take the verb 'kommen' for example:

Verb Definition

kommen to come

ankommen to arrive

mitkommen to come along

weiterkommen to get on

hereinkommen to come in

herauskommen to come out

nachkommen to come later

zurückkommen to come back

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Inseparable Prefixes
These prefixes are always attached to the front end of a verb and are never removed from it no
matter the tense or form of the verb. When pronouncing a verb with an inseparable prefix, the
stress is always on the stem of the verb.
The table below shows these prefixes, along with some examples:

Prefix Verb Definition

bekommen to get/receive

be-

besuchen to visit/attend

empfehlen to recommend

emp-

empfinden to feel

entlassen to discharge/fire

ent-

entscheiden to decide/determine

erfinden to invent/make-up

er-

erwarten to expect/anticipate

ge- gehorchen to obey

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 Prefix Verb Definition

gestatten to permit/allow

missachtest to disobey/disregard

miss-

misstrauen to mistrust/suspect

vergessen to forget

ver-

verstehen to understand

zerstören to destroy

zer-

zerkratzen to scratch

The inseparable prefix remains attached to the verb when its conjugated. Notice the position
of the inseparable prefix in the following examples:

 Ich verstehe sehr gut Deutsch - I understant very good German

 Ich besuche meine Eltern jeden Tag - I visit my parents everyday

Separable Prefixes
Separable prefixes are adverbs and prepositions that are detached from the verb when it is
conjugated. It would be completely impractical to list all of those prefixes; as there are many.
When pronouncing a verb with a separable prefix, the stress is always on the separable prefix.
The table below shows the most common ones along with some examples:

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Prefix Verb Definition

ankommen to arrive

an-

anrufen to phone somebody

aufstehen to wake up

auf-

aufhören to stop/cease

ausgehen to go out

aus-

aussprechen to pronounce

beibringen to teach

bei-

beitragen to add/contribute

einkaufen to go shopping

ein-

einladen to invite

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Prefix Verb Definition

fortfahren to continue/proceed

fort-

fortgehen to go away

mitgehen to go along

mit-

mitarbeiten to collaborate

nachahmen to imitate/copy

nach-

nacharbeiten to rework/revise

vorstellen to present/introduce

vor-

vorbereiten to prepare/set up

wegfahren to drive away

weg-

weglaufen to run away

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 Prefix Verb Definition

zuhören to listen

zu-

zunehmen to increase/grow

As already mentioned, when a verb with a separable prefix is conjugated in the present tense,
the separable prefix is detached from it. The prefix is moved to the end of its clause. Notice
the position of the inseparable prefix in the following examples:

 Herr Bauer ruft seine Frau an - Mr Bauer is calling his wife

 Ich gehe mit meinen Freunden jeden Tag aus - I go out with my friends everyday
 Sie kauft im Supermarkt ein - She is shopping in the supermarket

Prefixes that can be Separable or Inseparable

A few prefixes exist that can be either separable or inseparable, depending on the way the
verb is pronounced. When the stress is on the prefix itself, the prefix is separable. But when
the stress is on the stem of the verb, it's a strong signal that the prefix is an inseparable one.
A few examples are shown in the next table:

Prefix Separable Verb Inseparable Verb

durch- durchfallen durchdringen

um- umsteigen umarmen

wieder- wiedergeben wiederholen

Of course, the verb conjugation depends on whether the prefix is separable or inseparable, as
shown in the next example:

 Wir steigen in Berlin um (umsteigen) - We change (busses) in Berlin

 Wir umarmen uns (umarmen) - We embrace ourselves

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