In 15 Seconds
- To renovate or redecorate a room or building.
- Used for cosmetic changes like painting and wallpapering.
- Very common in the context of moving and DIY projects.
Meaning
Think of it as giving your home a fresh facelift. It is the process of painting walls, replacing old floors, or finally getting rid of that 70s wallpaper to make a space feel new again.
Key Examples
3 of 7Talking about weekend plans
Ich kann nicht kommen, ich muss mein Wohnzimmer renovieren.
I can't come, I have to renovate my living room.
Discussing a new apartment
Die Wohnung ist toll, aber wir müssen erst einmal renovieren.
The apartment is great, but we have to renovate first.
A formal announcement at work
Unser Büro wird im August komplett renoviert.
Our office will be completely renovated in August.
Cultural Background
The 'Baumarkt' culture is huge. On Saturdays, stores like OBI or Hornbach are packed with people buying paint and tools for their weekend 'Renovierung'. Rental laws often include 'Schönheitsreparaturen', requiring tenants to paint walls when moving out, though this is often debated in court. In Vienna, many 'Altbau' apartments are constantly being renovated to maintain their historical value while adding modern comforts like floor heating. Renovations in Switzerland are known for being extremely high-quality and expensive, often involving strict environmental regulations.
The -ieren rule
Remember: no 'ge-' in the past participle for 'renovieren'. This applies to all verbs ending in -ieren!
Renovieren vs. Sanieren
If you tell a German you are 'sanieren' your flat, they will think you are tearing down walls. If you are just painting, say 'renovieren'.
In 15 Seconds
- To renovate or redecorate a room or building.
- Used for cosmetic changes like painting and wallpapering.
- Very common in the context of moving and DIY projects.
What It Means
Renovieren is all about cosmetic improvements to a building or room. It is not about building a house from scratch. It is about making an existing space look better. Think of paint, wallpaper, and new flooring. If you are tired of your white walls, you renovieren them. It is a very common word because Germans take great pride in their homes. You will hear it often during the spring or when someone moves.
How To Use It
Using renovieren is quite straightforward since it is a regular verb. You simply conjugate it like any other -ieren verb. You can say ich renoviere for the present tense. If you finished the work, use habe renoviert. It usually takes a direct object, like die Küche or das Bad. You can also use it without an object. For example, just say "Wir renovieren gerade." This tells people why your hands are covered in white paint.
When To Use It
Use this when you are talking about home improvement projects. It is perfect for telling friends why you cannot come to their party. You might be busy painting your bedroom. It is also the standard word used in rental contracts. Many German leases require you to renovieren when you move out. This usually just means painting the walls white again. Use it at the hardware store when asking for advice. It works for both professional contractors and DIY weekend warriors.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use renovieren if you are fixing something broken. If your toaster is dead, you reparieren it. If you are tearing down walls or replacing the entire roof, use sanieren. Sanieren is for structural or technical repairs, like fixing mold or old pipes. Also, do not use it for personal grooming. You do not renovieren your hair; you just get a haircut. Keep it strictly for buildings and rooms to avoid sounding like a construction site.
Cultural Background
Germans have a deep love for Baumärkte (hardware stores). Places like Obi or Hornbach are like playgrounds for adults on Saturdays. There is a strong DIY culture here. Many people prefer to renovieren themselves rather than hiring a professional. It is a way to save money and show off your skills. In Germany, it is very common to move into an apartment with bare concrete walls. This means you must renovieren before you even unpack your first box.
Common Variations
If you want to sound more specific, try tapezieren for putting up wallpaper. If you are just making things look pretty, use verschönern. For a massive, deep renovation, use kernsanieren. This means you are stripping the place down to the bones. If you are just doing small touch-ups, you can call them Schönheitsreparaturen. This literally translates to "beauty repairs." It is a very common term in legal rental agreements across Germany.
Usage Notes
The word is neutral and safe for all contexts. Just remember that in a legal sense, it often specifically refers to 'Schönheitsreparaturen' (cosmetic repairs) like painting.
The -ieren rule
Remember: no 'ge-' in the past participle for 'renovieren'. This applies to all verbs ending in -ieren!
Renovieren vs. Sanieren
If you tell a German you are 'sanieren' your flat, they will think you are tearing down walls. If you are just painting, say 'renovieren'.
Real Estate Lingo
Look for 'renovierungsbedürftig' in ads—it means the place needs a lot of work but might be a bargain!
Examples
7Ich kann nicht kommen, ich muss mein Wohnzimmer renovieren.
I can't come, I have to renovate my living room.
A classic excuse for missing a social event in Germany.
Die Wohnung ist toll, aber wir müssen erst einmal renovieren.
The apartment is great, but we have to renovate first.
Refers to the common practice of painting before moving in.
Unser Büro wird im August komplett renoviert.
Our office will be completely renovated in August.
Used here in a professional, passive construction.
Bin bei Obi. Renovieren ist so anstrengend!
I'm at Obi. Renovating is so exhausting!
Obi is a famous German hardware store chain.
Mein Hund hat den Flur mit seinen Pfoten neu renoviert.
My dog has 'newly renovated' the hallway with his paws.
Using the word sarcastically to describe a mess.
Nach der Trennung wollte sie die ganze Wohnung renovieren.
After the breakup, she wanted to renovate the whole apartment.
Renovating as a symbolic way to start a new life chapter.
Hilfst du mir am Samstag beim Renovieren?
Will you help me with the renovating on Saturday?
The verb is used here as a noun (Gerund).
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'renovieren' in the perfect tense.
Wir haben letztes Jahr unsere {die|f} Küche ________.
Verbs ending in -ieren do not take 'ge-' in the perfect tense.
Which verb fits best in this context?
Mein Toaster ist kaputt. Ich muss ihn ________.
You repair (reparieren) appliances; you renovate (renovieren) rooms.
Match the German term with its English equivalent.
Match the terms:
These are common collocations with 'renovieren'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Warum ist die Wohnung so leer? B: Wir ________ gerade.
Renovating is a common reason for an empty apartment.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Was gehört zum Renovieren?
Wände
- • streichen
- • tapezieren
- • verputzen
Boden
- • Laminat verlegen
- • Teppich reinigen
- • Parkett schleifen
Practice Bank
4 exercisesWir haben letztes Jahr unsere {die|f} Küche ________.
Verbs ending in -ieren do not take 'ge-' in the perfect tense.
Mein Toaster ist kaputt. Ich muss ihn ________.
You repair (reparieren) appliances; you renovate (renovieren) rooms.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common collocations with 'renovieren'.
A: Warum ist die Wohnung so leer? B: Wir ________ gerade.
Renovating is a common reason for an empty apartment.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
5 questionsUsually no. Plumbing is 'Sanitärinstallation' and falls under 'sanieren' or 'reparieren'. 'Renovieren' is mostly cosmetic.
It is a weak (regular) verb: renovierte, renoviert.
It's rare. Better to use 'überarbeiten' or 'neu gestalten'.
The noun is {die|f} Renovierung.
It is 'ich habe renoviert' (Perfekt with 'haben').
Related Phrases
sanieren
specialized formTo structurally repair or refurbish a building.
tapezieren
builds onTo wallpaper.
streichen
builds onTo paint.
umbauen
similarTo remodel or rebuild.
