Nehmen and its prefixes The verb nehmen means 'to take,' 't | Learn German with Leo🦁

Nehmen and its prefixes

The verb nehmen means "to take," "to grab," or "to seize." It has other meanings as well, but we'll focus on the most common ones. Let's explore some prefixes that can be used with this verb:

annehmen - to accept, to take on, to adopt
"Er hat die Einladung zum Abendessen angenommen." "He accepted the dinner invitation."

sich benehmen - to behave
"Kinder müssen lernen, sich in der Öffentlichkeit richtig zu benehmen." "Children need to learn how to behave properly in public."

einnehmen - to take, to receive, to occupy (a place; also in the sense of "to capture")
"Sie nahm den letzten freien Stuhl ein." "She took the last available chair."

festnehmen - to detain, to arrest
"Die Polizei hat den Verdächtigen festgenommen." "The police arrested the suspect."

vornehmen - to undertake, to initiate, to make (changes)
"Wir planen, einige Verbesserungen am Projekt vorzunehmen." "We plan to make some improvements to the project."

Mastering nehmen and its various prefixes will significantly enhance your German vocabulary. Incorporate these verbs into your language learning journey to achieve fluency. Regular practice and immersion in the language are essential for success!