In 15 Seconds
- Used specifically for the act of moving into a new home.
- It is a separable verb: 'ein' goes to the end.
- Often celebrated with bread, salt, and a housewarming party.
Meaning
It describes the exciting (and tiring) moment you officially move your belongings into a new home and start living there. It is the 'Day One' of your new apartment or house life.
Key Examples
3 of 6Talking to a friend about a new apartment
Ich ziehe am nächsten Samstag in meine neue Wohnung ein.
I am moving into my new apartment next Saturday.
Asking a colleague about their move
Wann können Sie in das neue Büro einziehen?
When can you move into the new office?
Texting a friend while surrounded by boxes
Endlich eingezogen! Überall stehen noch Kartons.
Finally moved in! There are boxes everywhere.
Cultural Background
The tradition of 'Brot und Salz' is the most iconic housewarming gesture. It's often accompanied by a card saying 'Viel Glück im neuen Heim'. In Austria, moving in is often celebrated with an 'Einstand', a small party or round of drinks for the new neighbors to introduce oneself. The Swiss use the word 'zügle' (from 'ziehen') for the whole moving process, but 'einziehen' remains the standard for the arrival. Because most Germans rent, 'einziehen' is a frequent life event. Apartments are often handed over completely empty—no kitchen, no lightbulbs—so 'einziehen' involves a lot of DIY.
The 'Sein' Rule
Always use 'sein' for moving house. It's the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Accusative Only
After 'in', always use Accusative. 'In die Wohnung', never 'In der Wohnung'.
In 15 Seconds
- Used specifically for the act of moving into a new home.
- It is a separable verb: 'ein' goes to the end.
- Often celebrated with bread, salt, and a housewarming party.
What It Means
Einziehen is the specific action of moving into a new residence. It is that magical moment when you get the keys. You bring your boxes, furniture, and plants into the space. In English, we just say 'move in'. In German, it literally feels like you are 'pulling' your life into a new box. It marks the transition from an empty shell to a home.
How To Use It
This is a separable verb, which is a bit of a German quirk. In a normal sentence, the ein flies to the very end. You would say Ich ziehe morgen ein. If you use a helper verb, it stays together: Ich möchte einziehen. It is very common to use it with the preposition in. For example, Ich ziehe in die neue Wohnung ein. Just remember to keep that ein at the finish line of your sentence!
When To Use It
Use this when you are talking about the specific date of your move. It is perfect for telling friends about your new lease. You will use it when discussing living arrangements with a partner. It is also the standard word for official documents like rental contracts. If you are texting a friend about your progress with boxes, this is your word. It sounds active and full of fresh starts.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use einziehen if you are talking about the general process of moving. If you are moving from House A to House B, use umziehen. If you are leaving your old place, use ausziehen. Also, do not use it for moving an object into a room. It is specifically for people (or pets) establishing a residence. If you just put a chair in a corner, that is not einziehen.
Cultural Background
Germany is a nation of renters, especially in big cities. Moving in is a big deal involving a 'Wohnungsübergabeprotokoll'. This is a formal inspection where you check every scratch. Once you are in, the 'Einweihungsparty' (housewarming party) is a sacred tradition. It is common to give bread and salt to someone moving in. This symbolizes stability and prosperity for the new home. It is a lovely, old-fashioned gesture in a modern world.
Common Variations
The noun form is der Einzug. You might hear people talk about the Einzugsdatum (moving-in date). Another common phrase is neu eingezogen (newly moved in). If you want to sound very casual, you can just say Ich bin drin (I'm in). But einziehen remains the gold standard for clarity. It covers everything from a tiny dorm room to a massive villa.
Usage Notes
The verb is separable and always takes 'sein' in the perfect tense. It is universally understood and appropriate for all social settings.
The 'Sein' Rule
Always use 'sein' for moving house. It's the most common mistake for A2 learners.
Accusative Only
After 'in', always use Accusative. 'In die Wohnung', never 'In der Wohnung'.
Skin Care
If you're reading a German moisturizer bottle, look for 'zieht schnell ein'—it means it's not greasy!
Examples
6Ich ziehe am nächsten Samstag in meine neue Wohnung ein.
I am moving into my new apartment next Saturday.
A classic use of the separable verb in the present tense.
Wann können Sie in das neue Büro einziehen?
When can you move into the new office?
Here, 'einziehen' stays together because of the modal verb 'können'.
Endlich eingezogen! Überall stehen noch Kartons.
Finally moved in! There are boxes everywhere.
Using the past participle 'eingezogen' for a status update.
Mein Hund ist schon eingezogen, ich schlafe noch auf dem Boden.
My dog has already moved in, I'm still sleeping on the floor.
Shows that 'einziehen' can apply to animals too.
Ich bin so glücklich, dass wir endlich zusammen einziehen.
I am so happy that we are finally moving in together.
Focuses on the emotional weight of sharing a home.
Ab wann darf der neue Mieter offiziell einziehen?
From when is the new tenant officially allowed to move in?
Standard formal phrasing for rental inquiries.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'einziehen' in the present tense.
Wir _______ morgen in unsere neue Wohnung _______.
In a main clause, the separable prefix 'ein' goes to the end, and 'ziehen' is conjugated for 'wir'.
Which auxiliary verb is correct for the past tense of moving house?
Ich _______ gestern in das Haus eingezogen.
Moving house is a change of location, so 'einziehen' uses 'sein'.
Match the verb with its meaning.
Match the 'ziehen' verbs.
These are the four most common 'ziehen' verbs related to daily life.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Wann kannst du in dein neues Zimmer? B: Ich kann am Montag _______.
The context is about entering a new room, so 'einziehen' is correct.
Which sentence fits the situation: 'You are at the pharmacy buying sun cream.'
Which sentence is correct?
In this context, 'einziehen' means 'to be absorbed'.
🎉 Score: /5
Visual Learning Aids
Einziehen vs. Umziehen
Practice Bank
5 exercisesWir _______ morgen in unsere neue Wohnung _______.
In a main clause, the separable prefix 'ein' goes to the end, and 'ziehen' is conjugated for 'wir'.
Ich _______ gestern in das Haus eingezogen.
Moving house is a change of location, so 'einziehen' uses 'sein'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the four most common 'ziehen' verbs related to daily life.
A: Wann kannst du in dein neues Zimmer? B: Ich kann am Montag _______.
The context is about entering a new room, so 'einziehen' is correct.
Which sentence is correct?
In this context, 'einziehen' means 'to be absorbed'.
🎉 Score: /5
Frequently Asked Questions
14 questions'Umziehen' is the entire process of moving from one place to another. 'Einziehen' is specifically the act of moving into the new place.
No, for a hotel you use 'einchecken'. 'Einziehen' implies a permanent or long-term residence.
Yes, in all its meanings (moving, absorbing, collecting), the 'ein' prefix separates in the present and past tenses.
They are likely using the financial sense (collecting money) or the military sense (drafting), which both use 'haben'.
It's a formal idiom meaning to make a grand entrance, like a king entering a city or a new technology becoming common.
Use 'bei jemandem einziehen'. For example: 'Ich ziehe bei meinem Freund ein.'
Yes, 'Luft einziehen' means to inhale or draw in air.
The noun is '{der|m} Einzug'.
It is neutral. It's used in everyday talk and in formal rental agreements.
Usually no, unless you are speaking about them as if they are humans moving into a 'home'.
Usually 'in' + Accusative, or 'bei' + Dative if moving in with a person.
It means 'to collect taxes'.
People might say 'reinziehen', but be careful: 'sich etwas reinziehen' can also mean to watch a movie or consume drugs/food.
Say 'Herzlichen Glückwunsch zum Einzug!'
Related Phrases
umziehen
similarTo move house (general process)
ausziehen
contrastTo move out
zusammenziehen
builds onTo move in together
beziehen
specialized formTo occupy/move into
niederrlassen
similarTo settle down
