zunehmen

Use zunehmen when you talk about weight gain. For example, someone might say Ich habe zugenommen (I have gained weight). It’s also used for abstract increases. Think of die Bedeutung nimmt zu (the meaning increases). Or die Lautstärke nimmt zu (the volume increases). It’s a regular verb. So, it follows standard conjugation. Ich nehme zu, du nimmst zu, er/sie/es nimmt zu. Easy peasy!

Imagine you’re chatting with a friend. They might say, Nach den Feiertagen habe ich leider zugenommen. (After the holidays, I unfortunately gained weight.) Or a doctor might note, Der Patient nimmt stetig zu. (The patient is steadily gaining weight.) In a weather report, you might hear, Der Wind nimmt zu. (The wind is picking up.) It’s everywhere!

Use zunehmen for physical weight gain. It’s the most common and natural way. Use it when something is growing in size. Or intensifying. Think of a hobby getting bigger. Or a problem getting worse. It’s perfect for gradual increases. It fits many everyday situations. Like after a vacation. Or during a lazy winter. It’s a safe bet for most growth scenarios.

Don't use zunehmen for sudden, rapid gains. If you're talking about a sudden jump in price, you’d use something else. Like steigen (to rise). Or ansteigen (to increase). Also, avoid it for purely digital growth. Like followers on Instagram. Unless you want to sound a bit quirky. Stick to weight or gradual, physical growth. For abstract concepts, be careful. It can sound a bit poetic. Or even slightly dramatic. Don't use it for things that are already huge. It implies a change from a smaller state.

Learners often confuse zunehmen with other words. They might try to use wachsen (to grow). But wachsen is usually for plants or children. Or they might use erhöhen (to increase). That’s more for actively raising something. Like a price. Or a salary. The biggest mistake is using it for things that don't 'take on' anything. Like Ich nehme an Glück zu (I gain luck). That just sounds wrong. The phrase is tied to physical or measurable increase.

There are other ways to talk about gaining weight. Dick werden means 'to get fat'. It's more direct and can be less polite. Gewicht zulegen is a synonym for zunehmen. It means 'to add weight'. It's very similar. For abstract increases, ansteigen (to rise/increase) is common. Steigern (to increase/boost) is also used. But zunehmen has that specific 'taking on' feel.

Sometimes Germans use ein paar Kilo zulegen. This means 'to put on a few kilos'. It's very specific to weight gain. Mehr auf den Rippen haben is a colloquial phrase. It literally means 'to have more on the ribs'. It's a very informal way to say you've gained weight. It’s like saying 'put on a few pounds'. It adds a bit of color to your German!

• What's the opposite of zunehmen? That's abnehmen. It means to lose weight. Or decrease.
• Is zunehmen always about weight? No, it can mean increase. Like Der Lärm nimmt zu. (The noise is increasing.)
• Can I use it for my plants? Usually, wachsen is better for plants. Zunehmen sounds a bit odd for them.