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kondensieren

B1 verb #8,500 most common 8 min read

kondensieren

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Practice it Examples Notes & Tips kondensieren in 30 Seconds

Explanation kondensieren in your Level:

At the A1 level, you don't need to use the word 'kondensieren' actively. Instead, you would use simple words like 'Wasser' (water) and 'kalt' (cold). You might say 'Das Fenster ist nass' (The window is wet). However, it is good to recognize it if you see it on a milk carton as 'Kondensmilch'. At this stage, just remember that it has something to do with water and science. You focus on basic needs and simple descriptions. If you see fog on a mirror, you just say 'Das ist Nebel' or 'Das ist Wasser'.

At the A2 level, you begin to describe processes in the home. You might learn about 'Lüften' (ventilating). You can understand that 'Wasser an der Wand' (water on the wall) is bad. You might encounter the word in a simple text about nature or the weather. You should understand that 'kondensieren' means 'gas becomes liquid'. You can use simple sentences like: 'Der Dampf wird zu Wasser.' If someone says 'Es kondensiert', you should know they are talking about the little drops of water appearing on a cold surface.

At the B1 level, you are expected to use 'kondensieren' in appropriate contexts, especially when discussing the environment, technology, or household maintenance. You should be able to explain why you open the window: 'Ich öffne das Fenster, damit das Wasser nicht an den Wänden kondensiert.' You should also know the past tense 'kondensierte' and the perfect 'hat kondensiert'. You can follow a basic scientific explanation in a documentary or a news report about climate change or weather patterns without being lost.

At the B2 level, you use 'kondensieren' with confidence in technical and academic discussions. You can describe complex processes: 'Wenn gesättigte Luft abkühlt, muss ein Teil des Wasserdampfes kondensieren.' You also start to understand the figurative use, such as 'einen Text kondensieren' (to condense a text), although you might still prefer 'zusammenfassen'. You understand the nuances between 'kondensieren', 'verflüssigen', and 'verdichten'. Your grammar is precise, and you correctly omit the 'ge-' in the past participle.

At the C1 level, you use 'kondensieren' in sophisticated ways. You might use it in a professional presentation about engineering, chemistry, or environmental science. You are comfortable with the noun form 'Kondensation' and related terms like 'Kondensationspunkt'. You can use the word figuratively to describe the distillation of complex philosophical or political ideas: 'Die gesamte Ideologie lässt sich auf diesen einen Satz kondensieren.' You recognize the word in high-level literature and technical manuals where precision is paramount.

At the C2 level, you have a near-native grasp of 'kondensieren'. You use it effortlessly in any register, from explaining a scientific phenomenon to using it as a powerful metaphor in creative writing. You understand its historical etymology and how it relates to other Latinate words in German. You can discuss the thermodynamics of condensation in great detail or critique a piece of writing for not being 'ausreichend kondensiert' (sufficiently condensed/tightly written). The word is just one of many precise tools in your extensive vocabulary.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

kondensieren in 30 Seconds

Kondensieren is the German verb for 'to condense', describing gas turning into liquid.
It is a regular '-ieren' verb, meaning its past participle is 'kondensiert' (no 'ge-').
It is used in physics, weather contexts, and figuratively to mean 'summarizing' or 'boiling down'.
Commonly heard regarding home maintenance (foggy windows) and scientific processes.

The German verb kondensieren is a precise scientific term that has found its way into everyday language, primarily describing the physical transition of a substance from a gaseous state to a liquid state. Imagine a cold winter morning where you breathe against a window pane; the white mist that forms is the result of water vapor in your breath losing heat and turning into tiny liquid droplets. This specific process is exactly what the word represents. In a broader, more figurative sense, especially in academic or literary contexts, it can also mean to compress or concentrate information, though Germans more frequently use 'zusammenfassen' for that purpose. However, when discussing physics, chemistry, or meteorology, kondensieren is the indispensable standard term.

Physical Transformation: The primary use relates to thermodynamics. When steam from a boiling kettle hits a cold kitchen tile, it undergoes condensation. The energy decreases, and the molecules move closer together. You will hear this in weather reports when experts explain how clouds form: 'Feuchte Luft steigt auf und beginnt zu kondensieren.'
Technical Application: In engineering, particularly with air conditioning or power plants, the word is used to describe the function of a 'Kondensator' (condenser). This is a device designed specifically to facilitate this state change to recycle water or manage heat.
Abstract Concentration: In higher-level German, one might 'kondensieren' a complex theory into a single sentence. This implies not just shortening it, but refining it to its purest, most potent form, much like how a gas is more diffuse than a liquid.

Wenn der heiße Wasserdampf auf die kalte Glasfläche trifft, beginnt er sofort zu kondensieren und bildet kleine Tropfen.

Translation: When the hot steam hits the cold glass surface, it immediately begins to condense and forms small drops.

In der Nacht kühlte die Luft so stark ab, dass die Feuchtigkeit an den Blättern zu Tau kondensierte.

Der Chemiker versuchte, das Gas im Reagenzglas durch Abkühlung zu kondensieren.

To understand the full scope, one must look at the environment. In a bathroom after a shower, the mirror 'beschlägt' (fogs up), which is the everyday way to describe condensation. However, if you are explaining the 'why' behind the fog, you use kondensieren. It is a word that bridges the gap between seeing something happen and explaining the science of why it happens. It is frequently used in the passive voice or as an intransitive verb where the substance itself is the subject.

Using kondensieren correctly requires understanding its role as both a transitive and intransitive verb. Most often, you will see it used intransitively, meaning the gas is the subject performing the action of turning into a liquid. For example, 'Der Dampf kondensiert.' However, you can also use it transitively when an external force or person causes the condensation: 'Die Maschine kondensiert den Dampf.'

Intransitive Use (The substance changes): This is the most common form. The pattern is: [Substance] + [kondensiert]. 'Das Wasser an der Scheibe kondensiert.' Note that we often add a prepositional phrase to indicate where it happens: 'an der kalten Wand' (on the cold wall).
Figurative Use (Information): In academic writing: 'Der Autor kondensiert seine Argumente auf drei Hauptpunkte.' Here, it means to boil down or distill complex ideas into a simpler form. It implies a loss of volume but an increase in density and clarity.

Durch den Druckunterschied kondensierte das Gas schneller als erwartet.

When constructing sentences in different tenses, remember the regularity of the verb. In the present tense, it follows the standard pattern: ich kondensiere, du kondensierst, er/sie/es kondensiert. In the Präteritum (simple past), it is 'kondensierte'. Because it is a B1 level word, you should start practicing it in complex sentences using 'weil' or 'wenn' to explain cause and effect in nature.

Wenn wir nicht lüften, wird die Feuchtigkeit an den Wänden kondensieren, was zu Schimmel führen kann.

Das Labor hat die Probe erfolgreich kondensiert, um sie besser analysieren zu können.

While you might not hear kondensieren in a casual conversation about football or grocery shopping, it is ubiquitous in specific domains of German life. If you are a student in a German school, you will encounter it in 'Physikunterricht' (physics class) or 'Chemie' (chemistry). It is a foundational concept in the 'Wasserkreislauf' (water cycle), a topic taught early in German education.

Another very common place to hear this word is in the context of 'Bauen und Wohnen' (building and living). Germany has very strict regulations and a high awareness regarding 'Lüften' (ventilating) to prevent 'Schimmelbildung' (mold formation). Handymen, landlords, or neighbors might explain that 'Feuchtigkeit an den Fenstern kondensiert' if the apartment is not aired out properly. This is a very practical, everyday application of the term.

Der Experte erklärte im Fernsehen, wie Wolken entstehen, wenn warmer Aufwind kondensiert.

In the culinary world, you might see 'Kondensmilch' (condensed milk) on the shelf of a 'Supermarkt'. While the verb itself isn't used to describe the act of pouring milk into coffee, the product name is a direct derivative. You might also hear it in weather forecasts on the news (Tagesschau), especially when explaining fog or dew point ('Taupunkt').

In der Industrie wird Abwärme genutzt, um Gase zu kondensieren und Energie zu sparen.

One of the most frequent errors English speakers make is trying to add the 'ge-' prefix to the past participle. Because 'kondensieren' ends in '-ieren', the past participle is simply 'kondensiert'. Saying 'Ich habe das Gas gekondensiert' is grammatically incorrect and sounds very unnatural to a native speaker. Always remember: '-ieren' verbs are 'ge-free' in the Perfekt tense.

Another mistake is confusing kondensieren with 'konzentrieren' (to concentrate). While they can be related in a figurative sense (making something denser), 'kondensieren' specifically implies a change of physical state or a very specific type of distillation of ideas, whereas 'konzentrieren' is used for focus (mental) or increasing the ratio of a substance in a solution without necessarily changing its state from gas to liquid.

Falsch: Das Wasser ist an der Scheibe ~~gekondensiert~~.
Richtig: Das Wasser ist an der Scheibe kondensiert.

A third common error is using the wrong auxiliary verb. While 'sein' is often used for verbs of movement or change of state (like 'schmelzen' - to melt), 'kondensieren' usually takes 'haben' in the active sense ('Es hat kondensiert'). However, you will often see it used as an adjective or in the passive, which can lead to confusion. If you are describing the result, 'ist kondensiert' (is in a condensed state) is acceptable, but for the action itself, 'hat' is the standard.

Depending on the context, there are several words you might use instead of kondensieren. In daily life, Germans often prefer more descriptive, less 'scientific' sounding words.

beschlagen: This is what happens to your glasses or the car windshield. 'Die Brille beschlägt.' It describes the visual effect of condensation without using the technical term. Use this when you are talking about visibility problems.
verflüssigen: This literally means 'to make liquid'. It is a broader term than kondensieren. While all condensation is a form of 'Verflüssigung', not all 'Verflüssigung' is condensation (e.g., melting a solid can also be part of a process called Verflüssigung in some contexts, though 'schmelzen' is better).
zusammenfassen / eindampfen: If you are using 'kondensieren' figuratively for a text, 'zusammenfassen' (to summarize) is the standard word. 'Eindampfen' is a more colloquial, colorful way to say you are boiling something down to its essence.

Statt 'Das Gas kondensiert', könnte man in der Umgangssprache sagen: 'Es bilden sich Tropfen'.

In a comparison of registers, 'kondensieren' sits at the top as the most formal and precise. 'Beschlagen' is the most common for household issues. 'Verflüssigen' is common in industrial contexts where the end goal is to have a liquid product from a gas.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word is part of a large family of '-ieren' verbs in German that were borrowed from Latin/French to sound more academic and professional during the Enlightenment.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kɔndɛnˈziːʁən/

US /kɔndɛnˈziːrn/

The stress is on the third syllable: kon-den-SIE-ren.

Rhymes With

studieren marschieren diskutieren probieren verlieren passieren regieren servieren

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'z' like an English 'z' (it should be a voiced 's' in German).
Stress on the first syllable (KON-den-sieren) - incorrect.
Pronouncing the '-ieren' as 'ai-ren' - incorrect, it is always 'ee-ren'.
Hard 'k' at the end - the 'n' should be soft.
Missing the 'n' in the middle.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize due to Latin root 'condense'.

Writing 4/5

Requires remembering the '-ieren' rule for past participle.

Speaking 4/5

Pronunciation of '-zi-' and stress placement can be tricky.

Listening 3/5

Clear sound, but often used in fast technical speech.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

Wasser Dampf kalt werden Luft

Learn Next

verdampfen Aggregatzustand Atmosphäre Druck Temperatur

Advanced

Sublimation Resublimation Molekularbewegung Thermodynamik

Grammar to Know

Verbs ending in -ieren

studieren -> studiert, kondensieren -> kondensiert (no ge-).

State Change Verbs (Sein vs Haben)

Focus on process: hat kondensiert. Focus on state: ist kondensiert.

Subordinate Clauses (Verb-Final)

Ich weiß, dass der Dampf kondensiert.

Passive Voice with Process Verbs

Das Gas wird durch Kälte kondensiert.

Participle as Adjective

Das kondensierte Wasser (The condensed water).

Examples by Level

Das Wasser wird an der Scheibe fest.

The water becomes solid on the pane (simple concept).

A1 uses simple 'sein/werden' structures.

Dampf ist wie Wolken.

Steam is like clouds.

Simple comparison.

Kondensmilch ist für den Kaffee.

Condensed milk is for the coffee.

Noun usage.

Es ist kalt, das Fenster ist nass.

It is cold, the window is wet.

Cause and effect.

Woher kommt das Wasser am Spiegel?

Where does the water on the mirror come from?

Question word 'Woher'.

Die Luft hat viel Wasser.

The air has a lot of water.

Simple 'haben' sentence.

Ich mache das Fenster auf.

I open the window.

Separable verb 'aufmachen'.

Heißes Wasser macht Dampf.

Hot water makes steam.

Subject-verb-object.

Der Dampf wird zu kleinen Tropfen.

The steam becomes small drops.

Becoming something (zu + Dativ).

Im Bad kondensiert das Wasser oft.

In the bathroom, the water often condenses.

Frequency adverb 'oft'.

Wir müssen lüften, damit es nicht nass wird.

We must air out so it doesn't get wet.

Conjunction 'damit'.

Die Brille beschlägt, wenn es draußen kalt ist.

The glasses fog up when it is cold outside.

Nebensatz with 'wenn'.

Kondensmilch schmeckt sehr süß.

Condensed milk tastes very sweet.

Adverb 'sehr'.

Das passiert, wenn Gas flüssig wird.

That happens when gas becomes liquid.

Simple explanation.

Ich sehe Tropfen an der Flasche.

I see drops on the bottle.

Accusative object.

Die Wolken kondensieren zu Regen.

The clouds condense into rain.

Process description.

Wenn warme Luft abkühlt, beginnt sie zu kondensieren.

When warm air cools down, it begins to condense.

Infinitiv mit 'zu'.

Die Feuchtigkeit ist an der kalten Wand kondensiert.

The moisture condensed on the cold wall.

Perfekt tense with 'ist' (state change focus).

Man kann den Text auf eine Seite kondensieren.

One can condense the text to one page.

Modal verb 'kann' + figurative use.

Durch das Kochen kondensierte viel Wasser am Fenster.

Due to cooking, a lot of water condensed on the window.

Präteritum tense.

Es ist wichtig, dass der Dampf im Rohr kondensiert.

It is important that the steam condenses in the pipe.

Dass-clause.

Ohne Abkühlung kann das Gas nicht kondensieren.

Without cooling, the gas cannot condense.

Preposition 'ohne' + Akkusativ.

Haben Sie die Milch schon kondensiert?

Have you already condensed the milk?

Perfekt with 'haben' (transitive).

Die Tropfen bilden sich, weil der Dampf kondensiert.

The drops form because the steam condenses.

Causal clause with 'weil'.

Der Wasserdampf kondensiert an den sogenannten Kondensationskernen.

The water vapor condenses on the so-called condensation nuclei.

Technical vocabulary 'Kondensationskerne'.

In diesem Gerät wird das Kältemittel kontinuierlich kondensiert.

In this device, the refrigerant is continuously condensed.

Passive voice 'wird kondensiert'.

Wir sollten unsere Ergebnisse auf die wesentlichen Punkte kondensieren.

We should condense our results to the essential points.

Konjunktiv II for suggestion.

Sobald die Temperatur sinkt, kondensiert die Luftfeuchtigkeit.

As soon as the temperature drops, the humidity condenses.

Temporal conjunction 'sobald'.

Das kondensierte Wasser wird in einem Behälter aufgefangen.

The condensed water is collected in a container.

Participle used as an adjective.

Die Physiker beobachteten, wie das Gas zu einer Flüssigkeit kondensierte.

The physicists observed how the gas condensed into a liquid.

Indirect question clause with 'wie'.

Trotz der Hitze kondensierte ein Teil der Flüssigkeit wieder.

Despite the heat, part of the liquid condensed again.

Concessive preposition 'trotz'.

Kondensieren ist ein exothermer Prozess, bei dem Wärme frei wird.

Condensing is an exothermic process where heat is released.

Substantiviertes Verb (Gerund).

Die philosophischen Abhandlungen wurden zu einem knappen Manifest kondensiert.

The philosophical treatises were condensed into a concise manifesto.

Passive Präteritum.

Bei Erreichen des Taupunkts beginnt das Gas unweigerlich zu kondensieren.

Upon reaching the dew point, the gas inevitably begins to condense.

Nominal style with 'Bei Erreichen'.

Die Komplexität der modernen Welt lässt sich nicht einfach kondensieren.

The complexity of the modern world cannot be simply condensed.

Reflexive 'lässt sich' as passive replacement.

In der Brennwerttechnik wird die im Wasserdampf enthaltene Wärme durch Kondensieren genutzt.

In condensing boiler technology, the heat contained in the steam is used by condensing.

Technical terminology 'Brennwerttechnik'.

Die Lyrik Rilkes scheint die gesamte menschliche Erfahrung zu kondensieren.

Rilke's poetry seems to condense the entire human experience.

Stylistic figurative use.

Durch extreme Kühlung gelang es, sogar Helium zu kondensieren.

Through extreme cooling, it was possible to condense even helium.

Prepositional phrase with 'Durch'.

Das kondensierende Medium dient gleichzeitig als Kühlmittel.

The condensing medium serves simultaneously as a coolant.

Participle I (present participle) as adjective.

Es gilt, die verstreuten Informationen zu einer kohärenten Strategie zu kondensieren.

It is necessary to condense the scattered information into a coherent strategy.

Fixed expression 'Es gilt, ... zu'.

In seinem Spätwerk kondensierte der Komponist seine musikalische Sprache bis zur absoluten Reduktion.

In his late work, the composer condensed his musical language to the point of absolute reduction.

Nuanced literary description.

Die soziokulturellen Spannungen kondensierten schließlich zu einem offenen Konflikt.

The socio-cultural tensions finally condensed into an open conflict.

Metaphorical use for social processes.

Das Phänomen, bei dem interstellare Gase zu Sternen kondensieren, ist faszinierend.

The phenomenon in which interstellar gases condense into stars is fascinating.

Relative clause with 'bei dem'.

Die Essenz seiner jahrelangen Forschung kondensierte er in einem einzigen, brillanten Aufsatz.

He condensed the essence of his years of research into a single, brilliant essay.

Object focus word order.

Man muss die Datenflut kondensieren, um überhaupt handlungsfähig zu bleiben.

One must condense the flood of data to remain capable of acting at all.

Final clause with 'um ... zu'.

Die kühle Abendluft ließ die Erinnerungen an jenen Sommer fast greifbar kondensieren.

The cool evening air made the memories of that summer condense almost tangibly.

Poetic causative 'lassen'.

Jegliche Materie würde bei diesen extremen Bedingungen sofort kondensieren.

Any matter would immediately condense under these extreme conditions.

Konjunktiv II for hypothetical.

Die kondensierte Form der Darstellung spart Zeit, erfordert aber höchste Aufmerksamkeit.

The condensed form of presentation saves time but requires the highest attention.

Abstract noun-adjective pairing.

Common Collocations

Wasserdampf kondensiert

zu Wassertropfen kondensieren

an der Scheibe kondensieren

zu einer Flüssigkeit kondensieren

Informationen kondensieren

beim Abkühlen kondensieren

vollständig kondensieren

in der Atmosphäre kondensieren

auf ein Minimum kondensieren

schnell kondensieren

Common Phrases

Es kondensiert.

— It is condensing (impersonal use).

Schau mal, es kondensiert am Fenster.

Kondensierte Milch

— Another way to say condensed milk.

Ich mag kondensierte Milch in meinem Tee.

Zu Tau kondensieren

— To turn into dew.

Über Nacht ist die Luftfeuchtigkeit zu Tau kondensiert.

Die Idee kondensieren

— To refine an idea to its core.

Wir müssen die Idee noch weiter kondensieren.

In Tropfenform kondensieren

— To condense in the form of drops.

Das Gas beginnt in Tropfenform zu kondensieren.

Wärme beim Kondensieren

— Heat released during condensation.

Wärme wird beim Kondensieren frei.

Dampf kondensieren lassen

— To let/make steam condense.

Man muss den Dampf kondensieren lassen, um Wasser zu gewinnen.

An kalten Flächen kondensieren

— To condense on cold surfaces.

Feuchte Luft wird immer an kalten Flächen kondensieren.

Nicht kondensieren können

— To be unable to condense.

Das Gas kann bei dieser Temperatur nicht kondensieren.

Zu Wolken kondensieren

— To condense into clouds.

Der Wasserdampf steigt auf und kondensiert zu Wolken.

Often Confused With

kondensieren vs konzentrieren

English speakers confuse 'condense' and 'concentrate'. In German, 'konzentrieren' is for focus or chemical concentration, while 'kondensieren' is for state changes.

kondensieren vs kombinieren

Sounds similar but means 'to combine'. No relation to state change.

kondensieren vs kompensieren

Means 'to compensate'. Often confused due to the 'kon-' prefix and '-ieren' ending.

Idioms & Expressions

"Auf den Punkt kondensieren"

— To get straight to the point/essence.

Er hat das Problem auf den Punkt kondensiert.

Figurative

"Zu Tränen kondensieren"

— A poetic way to say steam turned to water like tears (rare).

Der Dampf kondensierte zu Tränen am Fenster.

Literary

"Die Spannung kondensiert"

— The tension becomes palpable/thick.

Die Spannung im Raum kondensierte förmlich.

Literary

"In Fleisch und Blut kondensieren"

— Not standard, but used to describe a concept becoming real (mixing idioms).

Die Theorie kondensierte in seiner Praxis.

Creative

"Alles auf Null kondensieren"

— To reduce everything to nothing/essence.

Er kondensierte sein Leben auf das Nötigste.

Abstract

"Gedanken kondensieren"

— To clear and focus one's thoughts.

Beim Wandern kondensieren meine Gedanken.

Philosophical

"Zeit kondensieren"

— To make time feel denser or more packed.

Der Film kondensiert zehn Jahre in zwei Stunden.

Artistic

"Wut kondensiert"

— Anger building up into a specific action.

Seine Wut kondensierte zu einem einzigen Schrei.

Literary

"Die Essenz kondensieren"

— To extract the very core.

Wir müssen die Essenz der Marke kondensieren.

Marketing

"Zu Gold kondensieren"

— Metaphor for turning something gas-like/vague into value.

Er kondensierte seine Träume zu Gold.

Poetic

Easily Confused

kondensieren vs beschlagen

Both describe water on surfaces.

'Beschlagen' is the result (foggy), 'kondensieren' is the scientific process.

Die Scheibe ist beschlagen, weil das Wasser kondensiert ist.

kondensieren vs verdichten

Both mean 'to make denser'.

'Verdichten' often implies pressure (compressing gas), while 'kondensieren' implies a phase change to liquid.

Wir müssen das Gas verdichten, damit es kondensiert.

kondensieren vs schmelzen

Both are phase changes.

'Schmelzen' is solid to liquid, 'kondensieren' is gas to liquid.

Eis schmilzt, aber Dampf kondensiert.

kondensieren vs zusammenfassen

Both can mean 'to shorten info'.

'Zusammenfassen' is the standard word for summaries; 'kondensieren' is more metaphorical and implies higher density.

Ich fasse das Buch zusammen; ich kondensiere die Philosophie.

kondensieren vs abkühlen

They happen together.

'Abkühlen' is the temperature drop; 'kondensieren' is the resulting state change.

Die Luft kühlt ab und das Wasser kondensiert.

Sentence Patterns

[Subjekt] wird zu [Nomen].

Dampf wird zu Wasser.

[Subjekt] kondensiert an [Dativ-Ort].

Das Wasser kondensiert an der Scheibe.

Wenn [Satz], kondensiert [Subjekt].

Wenn es kalt ist, kondensiert der Dampf.

Etwas zu etwas [Dativ] kondensieren.

Das Gas zu einer Flüssigkeit kondensieren.

[Subjekt] lässt [Objekt] kondensieren.

Die Maschine lässt den Dampf kondensieren.

[Abstraktes Subjekt] kondensiert zu [Dativ].

Die Kritik kondensiert zu einem neuen Gesetz.

Durch [Akkusativ] wird [Subjekt] kondensiert.

Durch Kompression wird das Gas kondensiert.

In [Dativ] kondensiert sich [Subjekt] (poetic).

In seinen Worten kondensiert sich die Wahrheit.

Word Family

Nouns

die Kondensation (condensation)

der Kondensator (condenser)

das Kondensat (condensate)

die Kondensmilch (condensed milk)

das Kondenswasser (condensation water)

Verbs

auskondensieren (to condense out completely)

rückkondensieren (to condense back)

Adjectives

kondensierbar (condensable)

kondensiert (condensed)

kondensationsfähig (capable of condensation)

Dampf

Flüssigkeit

Aggregatzustand

Taupunkt

Abkühlung

How to Use It

frequency

Common in education, science, and housing/weather contexts.

Common Mistakes

Ich habe das Gas gekondensiert. → Ich habe das Gas kondensiert.
Verbs ending in '-ieren' do not use the 'ge-' prefix in the perfect tense.
Das Wasser kondensiert zu Eis. → Das Wasser gefriert zu Eis.
Kondensieren is gas to liquid. Liquid to solid is 'gefrieren'.
Ich kondensiere mich auf meine Hausaufgaben. → Ich konzentriere mich auf meine Hausaufgaben.
To focus is 'konzentrieren', not 'kondensieren'.
Die Brille kondensiert. → Die Brille beschlägt.
While scientifically correct, Germans use 'beschlagen' for glasses or mirrors.
Der Dampf kondensiert in die Luft. → Der Dampf kondensiert an der Luft / zu Wasser.
Wrong preposition. Use 'zu' for the resulting state or 'an' for the surface.

Tips

No 'ge-' Rule

Never say 'gekondensiert'. Verbs like 'kondensieren', 'studieren', and 'telefonieren' always skip the 'ge-'.

Apartment Life

If you live in Germany, use this word when talking to your landlord about windows. It shows you understand 'Lüften'.

Science vs. Daily

Use 'kondensieren' for the process, but 'beschlagen' for the visual effect on your glasses.

Summarizing

If 'kondensieren' feels too heavy for a text summary, use 'eindampfen' for a more creative, slightly informal touch.

The 'Z' Sound

The 's' in '-sieren' is voiced, like the 'z' in 'zero'. Practice: kon-den-SIEE-ren.

Essence

In essays, use 'kondensieren' to describe distilling complex theories into core arguments.

Cloud Formation

Associate 'kondensieren' with clouds. No condensation = no rain.

Word Family

Learn 'Kondenswasser' (the actual liquid) along with the verb to describe the whole situation.

Opposites

Always pair it with 'verdampfen' in your mind. Gas to liquid vs. liquid to gas.

Density

Link 'kon-DEN-sieren' with 'Dichte' (density). Making things denser.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Can of Dense' milk. To get it into the can, you have to 'kon-den-sieren' it. It's thick and liquid, not airy gas.

Visual Association

Imagine a cold window with a 'K' drawn in the fog. The 'K' stands for 'Kondensieren'.

Word Web

Wasser Dampf Kalt Tropfen Wolken Chemie Fenster Tau

Challenge

Try to explain the water cycle in three sentences using the word 'kondensieren' correctly.

Word Origin

From Latin 'condensare', which means 'to make thick' or 'to press together'. It entered German through the French 'condenser' in the 17th or 18th century.

Original meaning: To make something more dense or compact.

Indo-European (Latin branch -> Romance -> Germanic loanword).

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities; it is a neutral scientific/technical term.

In English, 'condense' is used similarly, but we often use 'fog up' for windows. Germans use 'beschlagen' for fogging, but 'kondensieren' is the explanation.

Scientific papers by Albert Einstein (thermodynamics). German weather forecasts (Deutscher Wetterdienst). Labels on 'Bärenmarke' Kondensmilch.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Weather and Climate

Wolken bilden sich durch Kondensation.
Die Luftfeuchtigkeit kondensiert.
Nebel entsteht.
Es regnet bald.

Cooking/Kitchen

Der Deckel ist nass.
Dampf kondensiert am Fenster.
Kondensmilch benutzen.
Die Suppe kocht.

Physics/Chemistry Lab

Das Gas verflüssigen.
Den Taupunkt bestimmen.
Die Probe abkühlen.
Kondensat auffangen.

Home Maintenance

Schimmel vermeiden.
Richtig lüften.
Feuchte Wände.
Fenster abwischen.

Writing/Editing

Den Text kürzen.
Wichtige Punkte finden.
Prägnant formulieren.
Zusammenfassung schreiben.

Conversation Starters

"Wusstest du, dass Wolken entstehen, wenn Wasserdampf kondensiert?"

"Warum kondensiert das Wasser eigentlich immer an diesem Fenster?"

"Hast du schon mal versucht, einen langen Artikel auf drei Sätze zu kondensieren?"

"Was passiert physikalisch, wenn Gas zu einer Flüssigkeit kondensiert?"

"Benutzt du oft Kondensmilch für deinen Kaffee oder lieber frische Milch?"

Journal Prompts

Beschreibe einen kalten Morgen, an dem du gesehen hast, wie Wasser an den Fenstern kondensiert.

Wenn du dein bisheriges Leben auf drei Wörter kondensieren müsstest, welche wären das und warum?

Erkläre den Wasserkreislauf und benutze dabei das Wort kondensieren mindestens dreimal.

Warum ist es in Deutschland so wichtig zu lüften, damit kein Wasser kondensiert?

Stell dir vor, du bist ein Wassertropfen. Erzähle, wie es sich anfühlt, aus Dampf zu kondensieren.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, but usually as the adjective 'kondensiert' or in the noun 'Kondensmilch'. You wouldn't normally say 'Ich kondensiere die Milch' at home; you buy it already condensed.

German verbs ending in '-ieren' (mostly of Latin origin) do not take the 'ge-' prefix in the past participle. Examples: studiert, reserviert, kondensiert.

Yes, but it is very formal or literary. In a normal office setting, use 'zusammenfassen'. Use 'kondensieren' if you want to emphasize that you are distilling the very essence of something.

Usually 'haben' (Der Dampf hat kondensiert), but 'sein' is sometimes used when describing the resulting state (Das Wasser ist kondensiert), similar to 'geschmolzen'.

'Niederschlagen' (reflexive: sich niederschlagen) means the moisture settles on a surface. 'Kondensieren' is the physical process of turning into liquid. They often happen at the same time.

Absolutely. It is the standard term for capturing liquid from a gas during distillation.

They are called 'Kondensstreifen', literally 'condensation stripes', because they are formed by condensed water vapor from jet engines.

Only figuratively. A crowd might 'kondensieren' (gather into a dense mass) in a poetic sense, but it is not common.

In physics/engineering, it's a device that condenses gas. In electronics, it's the German word for a 'capacitor' (because it 'condenses' or stores charge).

It is a weak (regular) verb: kondensieren, kondensierte, hat kondensiert.