Top 100 German Verbs (A1-A2): Sein, Haben, Machen and More
If you want to speak German quickly, start with verbs. They are the backbone of every sentence. With just 100 common verbs, you can describe daily routines, talk about the present, express needs, ask questions, and have basic conversations.
This guide gives you the Top 100 most useful German verbs, grouped by category and paired with clear English meanings. At the end, you’ll get a ready-to-use flashcard deck layout for easy study.
Why These 100 Verbs Matter
These verbs were selected based on:
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Frequency in everyday speech
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Usefulness in beginner (A1/A2) situations
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Coverage of essential functions: movement, thinking, daily routine, feelings, interactions
Master these verbs and you can express 80% of basic communication needs.
How to Study These Verbs Efficiently
✔️ Learn in small thematic sets (5-10 verbs per day)
**✔️ Always learn verbs with at least one example sentence
****✔️ Use a flashcard app (Anki, Quizlet, DeuTale)
****✔️ Practice aloud using “Ich”, “du”, “er/sie”, “wir”
**✔️ Add the verbs to simple daily routines: “Ich gehe… Ich mache… Ich möchte…”
Top 100 German Verbs (With English Meaning)
Grouped for maximum clarity & memory.
1. The Most Essential Verbs (10)
These appear in almost every sentence:
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sein - to be
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haben - to have
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machen - to do/make
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gehen - to go
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kommen - to come
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können - can/be able to
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müssen - must/have to
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sollen - should
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wollen - want
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dürfen - may/be allowed to
2. Daily Routine Verbs (15)
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essen - to eat
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trinken - to drink
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schlafen - to sleep
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aufstehen - to get up
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arbeiten - to work
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lernen - to study/learn
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lesen - to read
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schreiben - to write
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sprechen - to speak
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hören - to hear
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sehen - to see/watch
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kochen - to cook
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putzen - to clean
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spielen - to play
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bringen - to bring
3. Movement & Travel Verbs (15)
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fahren - to drive/go (by vehicle)
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laufen - to walk/run
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reisen - to travel
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fliegen - to fly
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gehen - to walk/go
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ankommen - to arrive
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abfahren - to depart
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steigen (ein/aus) - to get in/out
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finden - to find
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suchen - to look for
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bleiben - to stay
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tragen - to carry/wear
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kommen - to come
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schwimmen - to swim
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fahren - to ride/drive
4. Social & Communication Verbs (15)
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sagen - to say
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fragen - to ask
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antworten - to answer
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denken - to think
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glauben - to believe
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treffen - to meet
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helfen - to help
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rufen - to call
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erklären - to explain
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erzählen - to tell (a story)
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schreiben - to write
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rufen - to call
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diskutieren - to discuss
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lachen - to laugh
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weinen - to cry
5. Household & Everyday Actions (15)
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öffnen - to open
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schließen - to close
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packen - to pack
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kaufen - to buy
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verkaufen - to sell
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bezahlen - to pay
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tragen - to carry
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stellen - to put/place (vertical)
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legen - to lay/place (horizontal)
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hängen - to hang
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setzen - to set/place
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nehmen - to take
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bringen - to bring
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benutzen - to use
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reparieren - to repair
6. Feelings, Health & Body Verbs (10)
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fühlen - to feel
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lieben - to love
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mögen - to like
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hassen - to hate
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wehtun - to hurt
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brauchen - to need
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hoffen - to hope
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sich freuen - to be glad
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sich entspannen - to relax
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atmen - to breathe
7. Thinking & Mental Actions (10)
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denken - to think
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wissen - to know (a fact)
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kennen - to know (a person/place)
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vergessen - to forget
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erinnern - to remember
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planen - to plan
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verstehen - to understand
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entscheiden - to decide
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lernen - to learn
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hoffen - to hope
8. Useful Everyday Extras (10)
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passen - to fit
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gehören - to belong
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kosten - to cost
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regnen - to rain
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schneien - to snow
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beginnen - to begin
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enden - to end
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funktionieren - to work/function
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warten - to wait
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probieren - to try/test
Mini Examples (A1-Friendly)
sein
Ich bin müde.
I am tired.
haben
Ich habe einen Termin.
I have an appointment.
machen
Was machst du heute?
What are you doing today?
gehen
Wir gehen ins Kino.
We are going to the cinema.
