In 15 Seconds
- Used to strictly disallow an action or item.
- The person forbidden is in Dative; the thing is Accusative.
- Commonly seen on signs as the adjective 'verboten'.
Meaning
This word is used when you want to say something is strictly not allowed or forbidden. It is the ultimate 'stop' signal in German, whether it's a law, a rule, or just a parent telling a kid 'no way'.
Key Examples
3 of 6A parent talking to a child
Ich verbiete dir, heute Abend fernzusehen.
I forbid you from watching TV tonight.
Seeing a sign at a lake
Schwimmen ist hier streng verboten.
Swimming is strictly forbidden here.
Texting a friend about a bad habit
Ich verbiete dir diesen schlechten Witz!
I forbid you from telling that bad joke!
Cultural Background
The 'Sonntagsruhe' is a legal 'Verbot' of loud activities on Sundays. You cannot mow your lawn or use a drill, as it is a day for rest. In Vienna, there are strict 'Verbote' regarding feeding pigeons in public places, with fines for those who do. Swiss apartment buildings often have 'Hausordnungen' (house rules) that might 'verbieten' showering or flushing the toilet after 10 PM to avoid noise. Directness is valued. If a boss says 'Ich verbiete das', it is not seen as an insult but as a clear professional instruction.
Dative First
Always remember the person comes first in the Dative: 'Ich verbiete DIR (Dat) das (Acc)'.
Too Strong?
Be careful using this with friends; it can sound very bossy. Use 'Lass das bitte' instead.
In 15 Seconds
- Used to strictly disallow an action or item.
- The person forbidden is in Dative; the thing is Accusative.
- Commonly seen on signs as the adjective 'verboten'.
What It Means
Verbieten is the German word for 'to forbid' or 'to prohibit'. It carries a lot of weight. When you use it, you aren't just making a suggestion. You are setting a hard boundary. It comes from the root bieten (to offer), but the prefix ver- flips it. Instead of offering something, you are taking the possibility away. It’s the verbal equivalent of a red 'No Entry' sign.
How To Use It
You will mostly use it with two people: the person doing the forbidding and the person being forbidden. In German, the person you are forbidding goes in the Dative case. The thing you are forbidding goes in the Accusative. For example: Ich verbiete dir das (I forbid you that). If you want to forbid an action, use a zu clause. Meine Mutter verbietet mir, spät auszugehen. It sounds strong, so use it with intent!
When To Use It
Use it when rules are involved. You’ll see it on signs at the park: Rauchen verboten (Smoking forbidden). It’s perfect for official contexts like office policies or legal warnings. In private life, it’s great for parents or when you are being playfully bossy with friends. If a friend tries to put pineapple on your shared pizza, you can jokingly say: Das verbiete ich dir!
When NOT To Use It
Don't use verbieten if you just want to say 'I'd rather you didn't'. It’s too aggressive for polite requests. If you are at a dinner party, don't say you 'forbid' someone from taking the last roll. That would make the room very quiet, very fast. Use lieber nicht or bitte nicht instead. Also, avoid it in professional negotiations unless a law is actually being broken.
Cultural Background
Germans are often stereotyped as loving rules, and verbieten is the king of rule-words. There is a famous German concept called Verbotsschilder (prohibition signs). You will see them everywhere. From 'No hiking here' to 'No feeding the ducks'. However, there is also a rebellious side. The phrase Verbote sind da, um gebrochen zu werden (Prohibitions are there to be broken) is a common cheeky response to over-regulation.
Common Variations
The most common version you'll see is the adjective verboten. It’s short, punchy, and clear. You might also hear untersagen. That is the even more formal, 'suit-and-tie' version of verbieten. If you want to talk about a specific ban, use the noun das Verbot. For example, a Fahrverbot is a driving ban. It’s a very flexible root word!
Usage Notes
The verb is strong and authoritative. In casual conversation, it is often used with a wink to be mock-bossy. In writing, it is standard for rules and regulations.
Dative First
Always remember the person comes first in the Dative: 'Ich verbiete DIR (Dat) das (Acc)'.
Too Strong?
Be careful using this with friends; it can sound very bossy. Use 'Lass das bitte' instead.
Passive Signs
When you see a sign, it usually just says 'Verboten' or '[Noun] verboten'. You don't need the whole verb.
Verbotskultur
Germans often debate 'Verbotskultur' (prohibition culture) in politics. It's a great buzzword for B2+ learners.
Examples
6Ich verbiete dir, heute Abend fernzusehen.
I forbid you from watching TV tonight.
Uses a 'zu' clause to forbid a specific action.
Schwimmen ist hier streng verboten.
Swimming is strictly forbidden here.
The adjective form 'verboten' is used for public rules.
Ich verbiete dir diesen schlechten Witz!
I forbid you from telling that bad joke!
A common way to use the word humorously in chat.
Das Gesetz verbietet die Weitergabe dieser Daten.
The law forbids the sharing of this data.
Used to describe legal restrictions.
Der Arzt hat mir Zucker verboten.
The doctor has forbidden me from having sugar.
Used when an authority figure sets a health rule.
Du kannst mir das Rauchen nicht verbieten!
You can't forbid me from smoking!
Expressing defiance in a personal relationship.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct form of 'verbieten' in the present tense.
Der Vater _______ dem Kind das Videospiel.
The subject 'Der Vater' is 3rd person singular, so the ending is -et.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Choose the correct Dative usage:
The person being forbidden something must be in the Dative case ('dir').
Match the German phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are common collocations and meanings of the verb.
Complete the dialogue with the correct word.
Kind: 'Darf ich Schokolade?' Mutter: 'Nein, ich ______ es dir!'
The mother is saying 'no', so she is forbidding it.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Verbieten vs. Erlauben
Practice Bank
4 exercisesDer Vater _______ dem Kind das Videospiel.
The subject 'Der Vater' is 3rd person singular, so the ending is -et.
Choose the correct Dative usage:
The person being forbidden something must be in the Dative case ('dir').
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are common collocations and meanings of the verb.
Kind: 'Darf ich Schokolade?' Mutter: 'Nein, ich ______ es dir!'
The mother is saying 'no', so she is forbidding it.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
12 questionsUsually, yes, as it stops someone from doing something. However, it can be positive if it's for safety (e.g., forbidding fire in a forest).
'Untersagen' is much more formal and used in legal contexts. In daily life, use 'verbieten'.
Yes, using 'sich verbieten'. For example: 'Ich verbiete mir diesen Gedanken' (I forbid myself this thought).
You say 'Es ist verboten'.
It is the past participle of the verb 'verbieten', but it is very commonly used as an adjective.
It means you are banned from entering a specific building, like a shop or a club.
No, that is a common mistake. Use the Dative case for the person instead.
Yes, it changes its stem in the past: verbieten -> verbot -> verboten.
Rauchen verboten!
The opposite is 'erlauben' (to allow) or 'gestatten' (to permit).
Yes, figuratively. 'Das Wetter verbot die Abreise' (The weather made the departure impossible).
Rarely, unless it's a joke or a very controlling relationship. 'Ich verbiete dir, mit anderen zu flirten.'
Related Phrases
untersagen
synonymTo prohibit (very formal)
nicht gestatten
similarTo not permit
jemandem den Mund verbieten
specialized formTo tell someone to shut up/silence them
verboten sein
builds onTo be forbidden
{das|n} Verbot
builds onThe prohibition/ban
