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B1 verb #7,500 le plus courant 8 min de lecture

transpirieren

To perspire, sweat; to excrete fluid through the skin.

Top 7,500

At the A1 level, you usually learn the word 'schwitzen' because it is very common and easy to use. 'Transpirieren' is much more advanced. However, you can think of it as a 'fancy' way to say someone is hot and their body is making water on their skin. You might see it in a doctor's office or on a bottle of deodorant. At this level, don't worry about using it yourself yet. Just remember: transpirieren = sweating. If you are in a very hot room and you see someone with water on their forehead, they are 'transpirierend'. It is a long word, but it sounds like 'perspire' in English, which might help you remember it. In A1, we focus on simple things like 'Ich schwitze' (I am sweating). 'Transpirieren' is a word you might hear if a teacher is being very formal or if you read a very polite book. It follows the same rules as other '-ieren' verbs like 'studieren' or 'telefonieren', which is helpful for your grammar later on.

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At the A2 level, you are starting to learn more 'functional' and 'formal' vocabulary. You might encounter 'transpirieren' in short texts about health or in advertisements. In A2, you should know that 'transpirieren' is the formal version of 'schwitzen'. If you are writing a formal letter or a report about a health topic, 'transpirieren' is a better choice than 'schwitzen'. You can use it with adverbs like 'viel' (much) or 'wenig' (little). For example: 'Er transpiriert viel.' You will notice that it doesn't need an object. You don't 'transpirieren' a thing; you just do the action. It's also good to recognize the past tense 'hat transpiriert'. If you went for a run and then went to a pharmacy to buy something for your skin, the pharmacist might ask: 'Haben Sie stark transpiriert?' Understanding this word helps you navigate more professional environments in German-speaking countries.

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At the B1 level, you are expected to distinguish between different registers of language. 'Transpirieren' is a perfect example of a B1-level word because it allows you to speak more precisely in formal situations. You should be able to use it in medical contexts, such as describing symptoms to a doctor, or in a professional workplace when discussing the climate in the office during summer. You should also be familiar with the noun 'die Transpiration'. At B1, you start to understand that German has many 'foreign' words (Fremdwörter) that come from Latin. These words often end in '-ieren' and are almost always more formal than their Germanic counterparts. For example, 'schwitzen' (Germanic) is everyday, while 'transpirieren' (Latin-root) is formal. You should practice using it with 'vor' + Dativ, like 'vor Hitze transpirieren', although 'schwitzen' is still more common there. Using 'transpirieren' correctly shows that you have reached a more mature level of German expression.

At the B2 level, you should use 'transpirieren' with confidence in technical or scientific discussions. You might encounter it in articles about biology, sports science, or climate change. At this level, you should also understand the nuances of synonyms like 'ausdünsten' or 'Schweiß absondern'. You should be able to explain the process of thermoregulation using this verb. For instance, you could say: 'Die Transpiration dient der Abkühlung des Körpers.' You should also be aware of the social implications of using such a word. In a B2 exam, using 'transpirieren' instead of 'schwitzen' in a formal presentation about health would earn you higher marks for 'range of vocabulary'. You should also be able to recognize it in literature, where it might be used to describe a character's physical state in a more detached or clinical way. Your grammar should be solid: 'Nachdem er eine Stunde gelaufen war, hatte er stark transpiriert.'

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At the C1 level, your understanding of 'transpirieren' should include its stylistic functions. You recognize that an author might use this word to create a sense of clinical detachment or to characterize a person as being particularly formal or even pedantic. You are aware of its etymological roots in Latin and how this connects it to other 'spirare' words like 'Inspiration' or 'Respiration'. In professional medical or biological writing, you use 'transpirieren' and 'Transpiration' as standard terminology. You also understand metaphorical or rare uses, though 'transpirieren' is mostly literal. You can discuss the evolution of the word and its place in the German 'Fachsprache' (technical language). At C1, you can also use it ironically to mock someone who is trying too hard to be posh. Your command of the verb's placement in complex sentences, such as in passive constructions or as a participle ('der transpirierende Sportler'), is flawless.

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At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of the word's socio-linguistic profile. You know exactly when 'transpirieren' is the only appropriate choice—such as in a high-level scientific paper on human physiology—and when it would sound absurdly out of place. You are familiar with its use in 18th and 19th-century German literature, where the distinction between 'common' and 'refined' bodily functions was even more strictly policed by vocabulary. You can use the word in complex rhetorical structures and understand its relationship to the broader field of German 'Bildungssprache' (the language of the educated). You might even know archaic or highly specialized variations and how they relate to the Latin 'trans-spirare'. Your use of the word is not just about meaning, but about tone, atmosphere, and the subtle signaling of your own educational background and social standing within the German language.

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Entraîne-toi Exemples Notes et astuces

transpirieren en 30 secondes

Transpirieren is the formal and medical German verb for sweating (perspiring).
It is a regular verb derived from Latin, used in professional and polite contexts.
The everyday alternative is 'schwitzen', which is used in 95% of casual conversations.
Commonly used in medical reports, science, and high-register literature to describe body cooling.

The German verb transpirieren is a sophisticated and formal term used to describe the physiological process of sweating or perspiring. While the more common word for sweating is schwitzen, transpirieren elevates the register, making it suitable for medical, scientific, or highly polite social contexts. It originates from the Latin 'trans-' (through) and 'spirare' (to breathe), literally suggesting that the skin is 'breathing through' by releasing moisture. In everyday German, using this word instead of schwitzen can signal a desire to be delicate or clinical about a bodily function that some might find unpleasant to discuss directly.

Medical Context: In a clinical setting, a doctor might use this term to describe a patient's symptoms without the bluntness of colloquial language. For example, discussing hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating) often involves the noun Transpiration or the verb transpirieren.
Formal Etiquette: In high-society or formal business environments, referring to someone as 'transpirierend' is considered more respectful than saying they are 'schwitzend'. It softens the biological reality of the situation.
Scientific Precision: Biology textbooks use this word to describe the thermoregulation process in mammals, focusing on the evaporation of fluid from the sweat glands to cool the body down.

Der Patient begann unter der Einwirkung des Fiebers stark zu transpirieren.

Understanding the nuance between transpirieren and schwitzen is key for B1 learners. While you can use schwitzen in 90% of situations, recognizing transpirieren in written texts, news reports, or medical consultations will broaden your comprehension. It is a weak verb, meaning it follows regular conjugation patterns, which makes it easier to integrate into your vocabulary once you understand its specific 'flavor'.

In der Sommerhitze transpiriert der menschliche Körper, um die Innentemperatur stabil zu halten.

Es ist völlig normal, bei körperlicher Anstrengung leicht zu transpirieren.

Durch das dicke Material des Anzugs transpirierte der Redner während seines Vortrags sichtlich.

Manche Menschen transpirieren mehr als andere, was genetisch bedingt sein kann.

Using transpirieren requires an understanding of its grammatical structure and its place within a sentence. As a regular (weak) verb, its conjugation is straightforward: ich transpiriere, du transpirierst, er/sie/es transpiriert, wir transpirieren, ihr transpiriert, sie transpirieren. In the past tense, it follows the pattern: ich transpirierte (Präteritum) and ich habe transpiriert (Perfekt). Because it describes a state or a continuous action of the body, it is almost always used with the auxiliary verb haben in the perfect tense.

Adverbial Modification: Commonly paired with adverbs like stark (strongly), leicht (lightly), übermäßig (excessively), or kaum (hardly). These modify the degree of perspiration being discussed.
Causal Clauses: Often used with 'vor' + dative to indicate the cause, such as vor Hitze (from heat) or vor Angst (from fear), though 'vor Angst schwitzen' is more common than 'vor Angst transpirieren'.

Während der Operation transpirierte der Chirurg unter seiner Maske.

In sentence construction, transpirieren typically functions as the main verb. It does not take a direct object (it is intransitive), as the action is something the subject does internally. You cannot 'transpirieren' something; you simply 'transpirieren'. If you want to mention the fluid itself, you would switch to a different construction, such as 'Schweiß absondern'. However, in poetic or very old-fashioned German, you might occasionally see it used in a way that suggests the skin is 'breathing out' moisture, but this is rare in modern usage.

Haben Sie letzte Nacht stark transpiriert?

Das Medikament kann dazu führen, dass der Patient weniger transpiriert.

You are most likely to encounter transpirieren in environments where professionalism and clinical distance are valued. If you are watching a German medical drama like 'In aller Freundschaft', you might hear a doctor mention a patient's 'Transpiration'. Similarly, in pharmacies or drugstores (Apotheken or Drogerien), product descriptions for high-end deodorants or medical-grade antiperspirants often use this word to emphasize their effectiveness against 'starkes Transpirieren'. It sounds more 'scientific' and thus more 'effective' to the consumer than just saying 'gegen Schwitzen'.

News and Documentaries: During heatwaves, news anchors might use the term when discussing the health risks for the elderly, explaining how the body's ability to transpirieren can be compromised by dehydration.
Formal Writing: In literature or formal essays, an author might choose transpirieren to create a specific atmosphere or to avoid the somewhat 'gritty' or 'dirty' associations of the word schwitzen.

Die Packungsbeilage warnt: Unter Alkoholeinfluss kann man vermehrt transpirieren.

Interestingly, you might also hear it in a slightly humorous or ironic way. If a group of friends is in a very hot room and one person wants to sound overly posh, they might say, 'Ich glaube, ich beginne zu transpirieren,' instead of 'Boah, ich schwitze voll.' This play on registers is a common feature of German humor. However, in a standard conversation at the gym, stick to schwitzen. If you tell your trainer you are transpirieren, they might look at you funny or think you are being intentionally pretentious.

The most frequent mistake learners make with transpirieren is using it in the wrong social register. While it is grammatically correct, using it in an informal setting like a football match or a casual hangout can make you sound like a textbook or a 19th-century aristocrat. Always consider the 'social temperature' of the room. If everyone else is using 'schwitzen', you should too. Another common error is confusing it with 'transportieren' (to transport) or 'transplantieren' (to transplant) due to the similar prefix and suffix. These words have vastly different meanings.

Confusion with 'schwitzen': Learners sometimes think transpirieren is just a 'better' word for schwitzen. It's not better; it's just more formal. Using it for a sweaty dog or a very sweaty athlete might feel mismatched.
Preposition Errors: Don't use 'mit' to describe what you are sweating. Use 'vor' for the cause (e.g., vor Hitze transpirieren) or simply an adverb (e.g., stark transpirieren).

Falsch: Ich transpiriere Schweiß. (Richtig: Ich schwitze / Ich transpiriere.)

Additionally, some learners try to make it a reflexive verb (e.g., 'ich transpiriere mich'), which is incorrect. It is a simple intransitive verb. You also shouldn't confuse the noun Transpiration with Inspiration. While they sound similar, one involves your sweat glands and the other your creative mind! Finally, remember the spelling: it's '-pirieren', not '-perieren'. The 'i' is crucial for the correct pronunciation and derivation from the Latin 'spirare'.

To truly master the concept of sweating in German, you need to know the alternatives and how they differ from transpirieren. The German language has several ways to describe moisture on the skin, each with its own nuance and level of intensity. Knowing which one to pick will make your German sound much more natural and precise.

schwitzen: The universal, neutral word for sweating. Use this in 95% of all daily situations. It can be used for people, animals, and even metaphorically (e.g., 'Blut und Wasser schwitzen' - to be extremely nervous).
ausdünsten: This means 'to exude' or 'to emanate'. It often refers to the smell that comes with sweating or the process of a substance (like alcohol or garlic) leaving the body through the pores. It can sometimes have a slightly negative or 'smelly' connotation.
feucht werden: Literally 'to become moist'. This is a very mild way to describe the beginning of perspiration, often used in sports or when describing the weather's effect on the skin.
Schweiß absondern: A more technical/biological phrase meaning 'to secrete sweat'. You'll find this in scientific reports or detailed medical descriptions.

Während man beim Sport einfach nur schwitzt, würde ein Biologe sagen, dass der Körper transpiriert.

In summary, choose schwitzen for everyday life, transpirieren for formal or medical contexts, and ausdünsten if you are talking about the smell or the chemical release. If you want to be very polite and avoid the word 'sweat' altogether, you might say someone is 'erhitzt' (heated up), which implies they might be sweating without actually saying it.

How Formal Is It?

Formel

Neutre

Informel

Child friendly

Argot

Le savais-tu ?

The word was adopted into German in the 17th century when French was the language of the elite, which is why it still sounds formal today.

Guide de prononciation

UK /tʁanspiˈʁiːʁən/

US /tʁanspiˈʁiːʁən/

trans-pi-RIE-ren

Rime avec

studieren probieren marschieren telefonieren interessieren passieren kapieren motivieren

Erreurs fréquentes

Pronouncing 'trans' like English 'trance' (it should be a short 'a' like in 'Mann').
Stressing the first syllable (it must be the third).
Missing the 'i' in the third syllable.
Pronouncing the final 'n' too softly.
Confusing it with 'transportieren'.

Niveau de difficulté

Lecture 3/5

Easy to recognize because of its similarity to 'perspire'.

Écriture 5/5

Requires knowledge of when it is appropriate to use instead of 'schwitzen'.

Expression orale 6/5

Pronunciation of '-ieren' verbs is easy, but the social context is tricky.

Écoute 4/5

Common in news and medical contexts.

Quoi apprendre ensuite

Prérequis

schwitzen heiß Körper Wasser Haut

Apprends ensuite

absorbieren sekretieren regulieren die Drüse die Pore

Avancé

Hyperhidrose Thermoregulation Evaporation Exsudation

Grammaire à connaître

Weak verbs ending in -ieren

transpirieren -> transpirierte -> hat transpiriert

Intransitive verbs with 'haben'

Ich habe transpiriert (not 'bin').

Preposition 'vor' + Dative for cause

vor Hitze transpirieren

Nominalization of verbs

Das Transpirieren ist gesund.

Participle I as adjective

Der transpirierende Mann.

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Exemples par niveau

Es ist heiß, ich schwitze. (Note: A1s use 'schwitzen' but learn 'transpirieren' means the same.)

It is hot, I am sweating.

Simple present tense.

Der Mann transpiriert.

The man is perspiring.

Regular verb ending -t for er/sie/es.

Transpirieren Sie?

Are you perspiring?

Question form with 'Sie'.

Ich transpiriere nicht viel.

I don't perspire much.

Negation with 'nicht'.

Transpirieren ist normal.

Sweating is normal.

Infinitive as a noun.

Mein Vater transpiriert bei Hitze.

My father perspires in heat.

Preposition 'bei' + dative.

Wir transpirieren im Sommer.

We perspire in summer.

First person plural.

Warum transpirierst du?

Why are you perspiring?

Question word 'Warum'.

Nach dem Sport hat er stark transpiriert.

After sports, he perspired heavily.

Perfekt tense with 'haben'.

Ich transpiriere, wenn ich nervös bin.

I perspire when I am nervous.

Nebensatz with 'wenn'.

Trinken Sie Wasser, wenn Sie transpirieren.

Drink water when you perspire.

Imperative form.

Er transpirierte während der Prüfung.

He perspired during the exam.

Präteritum (past tense).

Die Sportler transpirieren sehr viel.

The athletes perspire a lot.

Plural subject.

Sie transpiriert fast nie.

She almost never perspires.

Adverb 'fast nie'.

Wegen der Sonne transpirieren wir alle.

Because of the sun, we are all perspiring.

Genitive preposition 'wegen'.

Kann man ohne Grund transpirieren?

Can one perspire without a reason?

Modal verb 'kann'.

In der Sauna transpiriert man gesund.

In the sauna, one perspires healthily.

Indefinite pronoun 'man'.

Der Arzt fragte, ob der Patient nachts transpiriert.

The doctor asked if the patient perspires at night.

Indirect question with 'ob'.

Dieses Deo hilft, wenn man stark transpiriert.

This deodorant helps if one perspires heavily.

Conditional clause.

Es ist unhöflich zu sagen, dass jemand transpiriert.

It is impolite to say that someone is perspiring.

Infinitiv mit 'zu'.

Obwohl es kalt war, transpirierte er.

Although it was cold, he perspired.

Conjunction 'obwohl'.

Das Pferd begann nach dem Rennen zu transpirieren.

The horse began to perspire after the race.

Inchoative construction with 'beginnen'.

Man transpiriert, um die Körpertemperatur zu regulieren.

One perspires to regulate body temperature.

Finalsatz with 'um...zu'.

Haben Sie während des Vortrags transpiriert?

Did you perspire during the presentation?

Perfekt with 'haben' and genitive 'während'.

Bei Fieber transpiriert der Körper oft stoßweise.

With a fever, the body often perspires in bursts.

Adverb 'stoßweise'.

Übermäßiges Transpirieren kann ein Symptom sein.

Excessive perspiring can be a symptom.

Gerundized infinitive as a noun.

In tropischen Klimazonen transpiriert man ständig.

In tropical climates, one perspires constantly.

Locative phrase.

Die Haut transpiriert durch Millionen kleiner Poren.

The skin perspires through millions of small pores.

Preposition 'durch' + accusative.

Er transpirierte so stark, dass sein Hemd nass war.

He perspired so much that his shirt was wet.

Consecutive clause with 'so...dass'.

Sportler müssen viel trinken, da sie viel transpirieren.

Athletes must drink a lot since they perspire a lot.

Causal clause with 'da'.

Ohne zu transpirieren, würde der Körper überhitzen.

Without perspiring, the body would overheat.

Infinitiv mit 'ohne...zu' and Konjunktiv II.

Manche Medikamente lassen den Patienten weniger transpirieren.

Some medications let the patient perspire less.

Causative construction with 'lassen'.

In der klinischen Fachsprache wird das Wort 'transpirieren' bevorzugt.

In clinical technical language, the word 'transpirieren' is preferred.

Passive voice 'wird bevorzugt'.

Sein Gesicht war bleich, doch er transpirierte heftig.

His face was pale, yet he perspired violently.

Adversative conjunction 'doch'.

Die Fähigkeit zu transpirieren ist überlebenswichtig.

The ability to perspire is vital for survival.

Noun-verb combination.

Er transpirierte die Angst förmlich aus allen Poren.

He literally perspired fear from all his pores.

Metaphorical use with 'aus allen Poren'.

Trotz der Klimaanlage transpirierten die Gäste im Saal.

Despite the air conditioning, the guests in the hall perspired.

Preposition 'trotz' + genitive.

Es ist ein biologisches Paradoxon, dass man im Wasser transpirieren kann.

It is a biological paradox that one can perspire in water.

Complex sentence with 'dass'.

Die Transpiration wurde durch das Medikament gehemmt.

The perspiration was inhibited by the medication.

Passive voice with noun form.

Anstatt zu schwitzen, sagte er vornehm, er transpiriere.

Instead of sweating, he said distinguishedly that he was perspiring.

Konjunktiv I for indirect speech.

Das transpirierende Publikum fächelte sich Luft zu.

The perspiring audience fanned themselves.

Participle I as an adjective.

Die physiologische Notwendigkeit zu transpirieren steht außer Frage.

The physiological necessity to perspire is beyond question.

Fixed expression 'steht außer Frage'.

In seinem Werk beschreibt der Autor den Protagonisten als ständig transpirierend, um dessen Nervosität zu unterstreichen.

In his work, the author describes the protagonist as constantly perspiring to emphasize his nervousness.

Participle used as a characterization tool.

Die Transpiration des Laubwaldes beeinflusst das lokale Mikroklima massiv.

The transpiration of the deciduous forest significantly influences the local microclimate.

Technical use for plants (though 'Transpiration' is more common for plants than the verb).

Man könnte fast meinen, die Wände des alten Kellers würden transpirieren.

One could almost think the walls of the old cellar were perspiring.

Metaphorical personification with Konjunktiv II.

Die klinische Studie untersuchte, inwiefern Probanden unter Stress vermehrt transpirieren.

The clinical study investigated to what extent subjects perspire more under stress.

Indirect question with 'inwiefern'.

Er transpirierte so unauffällig, dass es kaum jemandem im Raum auffiel.

He perspired so inconspicuously that hardly anyone in the room noticed.

Adverbial use 'unauffällig'.

Die feine Gesellschaft des 19. Jahrhunderts hätte niemals das Wort 'schwitzen' benutzt, sondern stets 'transpirieren'.

The high society of the 19th century would never have used the word 'sweat', but always 'perspire'.

Historical linguistic context.

Das Phänomen, bei dem kalte Oberflächen zu transpirieren scheinen, nennt man Kondensation.

The phenomenon where cold surfaces seem to perspire is called condensation.

Simile with 'scheinen'.

Collocations courantes

stark transpirieren

leicht transpirieren

nachts transpirieren

übermäßig transpirieren

kaum transpirieren

vor Hitze transpirieren

sichtbar transpirieren

vermehrt transpirieren

krankhaft transpirieren

plötzlich transpirieren

Phrases Courantes

starkes Transpirieren

Neigung zum Transpirieren

beim Sport transpirieren

unter Stress transpirieren

kaum noch transpirieren

im Schlaf transpirieren

leichtes Transpirieren

vermehrtes Transpirieren

ohne zu transpirieren

das Transpirieren unterdrücken

Souvent confondu avec

transpirieren vs transportieren

Means to move goods, not to sweat. Similar prefix/suffix.

transpirieren vs transplantieren

Means to transplant an organ. Only the first two syllables are the same.

transpirieren vs inspirieren

Means to inspire. Rhymes with transpirieren but is unrelated.

Expressions idiomatiques

"Blut und Wasser schwitzen"

To be extremely anxious or to work incredibly hard. (Note: Usually used with 'schwitzen', but relevant context).

Ich habe vor der Prüfung Blut und Wasser geschwitzt.

informal

"ins Schwitzen kommen"

To start sweating, or to get into a difficult/stressful situation.

Diese Aufgabe bringt mich echt ins Schwitzen.

neutral

"eine schweißtreibende Angelegenheit"

A sweat-inducing matter; something very difficult.

Der Umzug war eine schweißtreibende Angelegenheit.

neutral

"Schweißperlen auf der Stirn haben"

To have beads of sweat on the forehead (sign of effort or fear).

Er hatte Schweißperlen auf der Stirn.

neutral

"den Schweiß von der Stirn wischen"

To wipe the sweat from one's brow (relief after hard work).

Endlich fertig, er wischte sich den Schweiß von der Stirn.

neutral

"im Schweiße deines Angesichts"

By the sweat of your brow (working very hard, biblical origin).

Er verdiente sein Brot im Schweiße seines Angesichts.

formal/literary

"jemanden ins Schwitzen bringen"

To make someone sweat (to challenge them or make them nervous).

Die Fragen des Journalisten brachten den Politiker ins Schwitzen.

neutral

"Schweißausbrüche bekommen"

To have sudden fits of sweating (often medical or fear-related).

In engen Räumen bekommt sie Schweißausbrüche.

neutral

"kalter Schweiß"

Cold sweat (sign of extreme fear or shock).

Ihm trat der kalte Schweiß auf die Stirn.

neutral

"Schweiß und Tränen"

Sweat and tears (great effort and suffering).

Der Sieg kostete viel Schweiß und Tränen.

literary

Facile à confondre

transpirieren vs schwitzen

They mean the same thing.

Ich schwitze beim Sport, aber der Patient transpiriert im Krankenhaus.

transpirieren vs ausdünsten

Both involve the skin.

'Ausdünsten' focuses on the vapor or smell; 'transpirieren' focuses on the biological cooling process.

Er dünstet Knoblauch aus.

transpirieren vs triefen

Both involve moisture.

'Triefen' means to be dripping wet, much more intense than 'transpirieren'.

Er trieft vor Schweiß.

transpirieren vs beschlagen

Both involve water on a surface.

'Beschlagen' is for objects (like windows); 'transpirieren' is for living beings.

Die Brille ist beschlagen.

transpirieren vs absondern

Used in medical contexts.

'Absondern' is a general term for secreting any fluid; 'transpirieren' is specific to sweat.

Die Wunde sondert Flüssigkeit ab.

Structures de phrases

Ich [verb] viel.

Ich transpiriere viel.

Wenn es [adjective] ist, [verb] ich.

Wenn es heiß ist, transpiriere ich.

Ich habe [adverb] [verb-past].

Ich habe stark transpiriert.

Er [verb], um sich [verb-infinitive].

Er transpiriert, um sich abzukühlen.

Wegen der [noun] [verb] wir.

Wegen der Hitze transpirieren wir.

Das [noun] wurde durch [noun] [verb-passive].

Das Transpirieren wurde durch Kälte gestoppt.

Anstatt zu [verb], [verb] er.

Anstatt zu schwitzen, transpirierte er.

Die Notwendigkeit zu [verb] ist [adjective].

Die Notwendigkeit zu transpirieren ist unbestritten.

Famille de mots

Noms

Verbes

Adjectifs

Apparenté

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Comment l'utiliser

frequency

Medium (Common in formal/technical writing, rare in casual speech).

Erreurs courantes

Using 'transpirieren' at the gym. → Using 'schwitzen'.
It sounds too formal and out of place in a casual, high-effort environment.
Saying 'Ich transpiriere Schweiß'. → Saying 'Ich transpiriere'.
'Transpirieren' already implies you are releasing sweat. Adding 'Schweiß' is redundant.
Confusing 'transpirieren' with 'transportieren'. → Check the middle of the word ('pir' vs 'port').
One is about sweating, the other about trucks and moving things.
Spelling it 'transperieren'. → Spelling it 'transpirieren'.
The 'i' comes from the Latin 'spirare' (to breathe).
Using it as a reflexive verb: 'Ich transpiriere mich'. → Ich transpiriere.
It is not a reflexive action; it is something your body just does.

Astuces

Use for Formality

When you are in a professional meeting and it is too hot, saying 'Ich transpiriere ein wenig' sounds much more polite than 'Ich schwitze'.

Cognate Power

Link 'transpirieren' to 'perspire' in your mind. They are twins in meaning and register.

Regular Conjugation

Don't worry about irregular forms. It conjugates exactly like 'studieren' or 'marschieren'.

Medical Situations

Always use this word or 'Transpiration' when talking to a doctor about skin moisture or fever symptoms.

Stress the RIE

The stress is always on the 'rie' part. Practicing this will make you sound more fluent.

Marketing Language

If you are writing an ad for a beauty product, 'transpirieren' makes the product sound more scientifically proven.

Sauna Culture

In a sauna, you can use either word, but 'transpirieren' emphasizes the health benefits of the process.

Formal News

Listen for this word during summer weather reports on Tagesschau or other formal news outlets.

Avoid Repetition

If you are writing a long text about health, switch between 'schwitzen' and 'transpirieren' to keep the text interesting.

Latin Roots

Remember 'trans' (through) and 'spirare' (breathe). Your skin is breathing through water!

Mémorise-le

Moyen mnémotechnique

Imagine a 'TRANS-parent' person 'SPIR-itually' breathing through their skin. Trans-spir-ieren.

Association visuelle

A doctor in a white coat looking at a patient and taking notes about their 'Transpiration' while the patient looks very sweaty.

Word Web

Biologie Medizin Körper Haut Schweiß Hitze Sport Deodorant

Défi

Try to use 'transpirieren' in a sentence today while talking about the weather, but only if you are speaking to a teacher or in a formal setting!

Origine du mot

Borrowed from French 'transpirer', which comes from the Latin 'transpirare'.

Sens originel : To breathe through (trans = through + spirare = to breathe).

Indo-European (Latinate branch via French).

Contexte culturel

Be careful not to sound like you are mocking someone by using such a formal word for a basic bodily function.

English speakers use 'perspire' in the same way Germans use 'transpirieren'—as a polite alternative to 'sweat'.

Medical textbooks (Pschyrembel) Scientific papers on thermoregulation 19th-century German novels (e.g., Fontane)

Pratique dans la vie réelle

Contextes réels

At the Doctor

Ich transpiriere nachts.
Ist starkes Transpirieren gefährlich?
Ich transpiriere mehr als früher.
Wie kann ich das Transpirieren stoppen?

In a Pharmacy

Haben Sie etwas gegen starkes Transpirieren?
Dieses Deo hemmt das Transpirieren.
Ich transpiriere unter den Achseln.
Gibt es Nebenwirkungen?

Science Class

Wie transpirieren Pflanzen?
Der Mensch transpiriert zur Kühlung.
Die Transpirationsrate steigt.
Warum transpirieren wir?

Formal Dinner

Es ist warm, man beginnt zu transpirieren.
Ich transpiriere leicht.
Darf ich das Fenster öffnen?
Die Hitze ist intensiv.

Weather Report

Man wird bei dieser Luftfeuchtigkeit stark transpirieren.
Vermeiden Sie Anstrengung, wenn Sie viel transpirieren.
Trinken Sie viel Wasser.
Die Hitze führt zu Transpiration.

Amorces de conversation

"Haben Sie bemerkt, dass man in diesem Raum sehr schnell zu transpirieren beginnt?"

"Wussten Sie, dass der Körper nur an bestimmten Stellen transpiriert?"

"Was tun Sie, wenn Sie im Sommer zu stark transpirieren?"

"Glauben Sie, dass es unhöflich ist, das Wort 'schwitzen' statt 'transpirieren' zu benutzen?"

"Haben Sie schon einmal nachts so stark transpiriert, dass Sie aufgewacht sind?"

Sujets d'écriture

Beschreibe eine Situation, in der du vor Nervosität stark transpiriert hast. Wie hast du dich gefühlt?

Warum ist es deiner Meinung nach wichtig, dass der menschliche Körper transpirieren kann?

Vergleiche die Wörter 'schwitzen' und 'transpirieren'. In welchen Situationen würdest du welches Wort benutzen?

Schreibe einen kurzen medizinischen Bericht über einen Patienten, der nachts stark transpiriert.

Wie hat sich dein Verständnis von Körperfunktionen verändert, seit du deutsche Fachbegriffe wie 'transpirieren' lernst?

Questions fréquentes

10 questions

Yes, they both mean to sweat. However, 'transpirieren' is much more formal and clinical. You would use 'schwitzen' in daily life and 'transpirieren' in a doctor's office or a formal report. Using 'transpirieren' with friends might make you sound a bit pretentious or funny.

Use it in professional settings, medical contexts, or when writing formally. For example, in a pharmacy, you might ask for a product against 'starkes Transpirieren'. If you are writing a biology essay, use 'transpirieren' to describe the cooling process of the human body.

It is a regular weak verb. Present: ich transpiriere, du transpirierst, er transpiriert. Past: ich transpirierte. Perfect: ich habe transpiriert. It follows the standard pattern of verbs ending in '-ieren'.

Yes, in a biological sense, any animal that has sweat glands can transpirieren. However, in common German, we usually use 'schwitzen' for animals too, or specific terms like 'hecheln' (panting) for dogs since they don't sweat through their skin like humans do.

It is common in written German and formal speech, but you won't hear it much in the streets or at the gym. It's a 'B1 level' word because it shows you understand the difference between informal and formal registers.

Yes, the noun is 'die Transpiration'. It is feminine and is used to describe the act or state of perspiring. For example: 'Die Transpiration hilft bei der Abkühlung.'

Yes! In botany, 'Transpiration' (and rarely the verb 'transpirieren') refers to the evaporation of water from plant leaves. This is a very common technical use of the word.

'Transpirieren' is the clean, medical term for sweating. 'Ausdünsten' often refers to the smell or the chemicals (like alcohol or garlic) that leave the body through the skin. 'Ausdünsten' can sometimes sound a bit more negative.

It is very rare because it is an intransitive verb. You might see it in very technical writing like 'Es wird transpiriert', but generally, it is used in the active voice with the person as the subject.

Both words come from the same Latin root 'transpirare'. Many formal German words that end in '-ieren' have English cognates that come from Latin or French, making them easier for English speakers to recognize.

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