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verbringen

A2 verb #1,200 most common 11 min read

verbringen

to spend (time)

Top 1,200

At the A1 level, you are just beginning to learn how to talk about your daily routines and basic activities. The verb 'verbringen' is introduced as a way to say 'to spend time'. You will mostly use it in the present tense to talk about simple things, like where you spend your weekend or your holidays. For example, you might learn to say 'Ich verbringe das Wochenende zu Hause' (I spend the weekend at home). It is important at this stage to remember that 'verbringen' is only for time, not for money. You will also learn the basic conjugation: ich verbringe, du verbringst, er verbringt. Teachers will encourage you to pair this verb with simple time words like 'den Tag' (the day) or 'den Abend' (the evening). You do not need to worry about complex grammar yet, just focus on the basic meaning and the present tense forms. It is a very useful word for answering simple questions like 'Was machst du am Wochenende?' (What are you doing on the weekend?). By practicing these simple sentences, you build a strong foundation for more complex conversations later on.

At the A2 level, your ability to talk about the past becomes crucial, and this is where 'verbringen' really shines. You will learn the perfect tense form: 'hat verbracht'. This allows you to talk about your last vacation or what you did yesterday. For example, 'Ich habe meinen Urlaub in Spanien verbracht' (I spent my vacation in Spain). You will also start using more prepositions with 'verbringen', such as 'mit' (with) to say who you spent time with: 'Ich habe Zeit mit meinen Freunden verbracht'. The distinction between 'verbringen' (spending time) and 'ausgeben' (spending money) becomes a major focus, as this is a common trap for English speakers. You will practice using accusative objects for the time duration, like 'zwei Wochen' (two weeks) or 'einen Monat' (a month). Sentences become slightly longer and more detailed. You might say, 'Wir haben drei Tage in Berlin verbracht und es war toll'. This level is all about expanding your ability to narrate past events and describe your experiences accurately using this essential verb.

At the B1 level, you are expected to handle more complex sentence structures, including subordinate clauses. You will frequently use 'verbringen' at the end of a sentence after conjunctions like 'weil' (because), 'dass' (that), or 'wenn' (when/if). For instance, 'Ich freue mich, weil wir mehr Zeit zusammen verbringen' (I am happy because we are spending more time together). You will also start using the simple past tense (Präteritum) form 'verbrachte' more often, especially when reading stories or writing formal texts. The contexts in which you use the verb expand beyond just vacations and weekends; you will talk about spending time on hobbies, at work, or in specific life phases, such as 'seine Kindheit verbringen' (to spend one's childhood). You will also learn to express opinions about how time is spent, using adverbs like 'sinnvoll' (meaningfully) or 'nutzlos' (uselessly). The focus shifts to fluency and the ability to integrate 'verbringen' naturally into longer, more cohesive narratives and discussions about lifestyle and habits.

At the B2 level, your use of 'verbringen' becomes highly nuanced and abstract. You are no longer just talking about physical locations and holidays; you are discussing how time is allocated in a broader, more philosophical or professional sense. You might discuss societal trends, such as 'Jugendliche verbringen zu viel Zeit in sozialen Netzwerken' (Teenagers spend too much time on social networks). You will seamlessly use all tenses, including the past perfect (Plusquamperfekt) to sequence events: 'Nachdem er Jahre im Ausland verbracht hatte, kehrte er zurück' (After he had spent years abroad, he returned). You will also encounter and use synonyms like 'sich aufhalten' or 'zubringen' to avoid repetition and elevate your style. The passive voice might also appear, though less commonly with this specific verb, in formal reports. Your vocabulary around 'verbringen' will include complex collocations and idiomatic expressions, allowing you to debate, argue, and present detailed information about time management, work-life balance, and personal history with native-like precision.

At the C1 level, 'verbringen' is a tool for sophisticated expression. You will use it effortlessly in complex academic, professional, and literary contexts. You will encounter it in advanced reading materials, such as historical analyses detailing where figures 'ihre letzten Lebensjahre verbrachten' (spent the last years of their lives). You will use it to articulate subtle distinctions in how time is experienced, employing a wide range of descriptive adjectives and adverbs. For example, you might write an essay on 'die im Stau verbrachte Lebenszeit' (the lifetime spent in traffic jams), using extended participial attributes. You will fully grasp the subtle stylistic differences between 'verbringen', 'verweilen', and 'zubringen', choosing the exact right word for the desired tone. Your spoken German will feature spontaneous, complex sentences where 'verbringen' is integrated into multi-clause structures without hesitation. You will also understand regional or slightly archaic uses of the word in classic German literature, demonstrating a deep, intuitive mastery of the language's rhythm and vocabulary.

At the C2 level, your command of 'verbringen' is indistinguishable from that of an educated native speaker. You use the verb not just correctly, but elegantly, playing with its nuances in creative writing, high-level academic discourse, or complex professional negotiations. You understand and can employ the verb in highly abstract or poetic constructs. You are intimately familiar with its etymology and how the inseparable prefix 'ver-' contributes to its meaning of consumption or completion of time. You can effortlessly switch between registers, using colloquial idioms like 'Zeit totschlagen' in a pub, and then immediately transitioning to formal, elevated prose using 'verweilen' or 'seine Tage zubringen' in a formal speech. You recognize and can correct the subtlest errors made by lower-level learners, not just in grammar, but in stylistic appropriateness. At this mastery level, 'verbringen' is deeply embedded in your linguistic repertoire, allowing you to express the most profound and complex thoughts regarding the human experience of time, existence, and duration with absolute precision and cultural resonance.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

verbringen in 30 Seconds

Used only for spending time.
Never used for spending money.
Inseparable prefix 'ver-'.
Past participle is 'verbracht'.

The German verb 'verbringen' is an absolutely essential vocabulary word for any learner, primarily because it describes a universal human experience: the passage and utilization of time. In English, we use the verb 'to spend' for both time and money. However, in German, these two concepts are strictly separated. You use 'verbringen' exclusively when you are talking about spending time, days, weeks, months, or years. If you want to talk about spending money, you must use the verb 'ausgeben'. Understanding this fundamental distinction is the first major step toward mastering this word. When you look at the etymology of 'verbringen', it consists of the inseparable prefix 'ver-' and the root verb 'bringen' (to bring). The prefix 'ver-' often indicates a process of change, consumption, or passing away. Therefore, 'verbringen' literally carries the nuance of bringing time to its completion or passing time in a specific state or location.

Core Meaning: To spend time, to pass time, or to stay in a place for a certain duration.

Ich möchte meinen Urlaub am Meer verbringen.

People use this word constantly in everyday conversations. Whenever someone asks you about your weekend, your holidays, or your daily routine, 'verbringen' is the go-to verb. For instance, after a long weekend, a colleague might ask you how you spent your time. You would reply using the past participle 'verbracht'. It is also highly common in formal contexts, such as describing where a historical figure lived during a specific era, or in legal and medical contexts, such as stating how many days a patient spent in the hospital.

Grammatical Profile: Irregular strong verb, inseparable prefix, takes the auxiliary verb 'haben' in the perfect tense.

Wir haben den ganzen Nachmittag im Park verbracht.

The versatility of 'verbringen' allows it to be paired with various prepositions to indicate where or how the time was spent. You can spend time 'mit' (with) someone, 'in' (in) a place, or 'auf' (on) an island. Furthermore, 'verbringen' is not just about physical locations; it can also describe states of being. You can spend time in silence, in joy, or in sorrow.

Abstract Usage: Using 'verbringen' to describe the emotional or psychological state during a period of time.

Sie verbringen ihre letzten Tage in völliger Ruhe.

To truly master German, you must internalize the rhythm of this word. It flows naturally in sentences and forms the backbone of narrative storytelling. Whether you are writing a diary entry, recounting a travel adventure, or simply chatting over coffee, 'verbringen' is indispensable.

Er wird das nächste Jahr im Ausland verbringen.

Wie verbringst du normalerweise deine Abende?

By practicing these patterns, you will build a strong foundation for expressing duration and experiences in German, making your conversations much more engaging and precise.

Using 'verbringen' correctly in sentences requires a solid understanding of German sentence structure, particularly verb placement and case government. Because 'verbringen' is a transitive verb in this context, it absolutely requires a direct object in the accusative case. This direct object is almost always a unit of time: 'eine Stunde' (an hour), 'den Tag' (the day), 'das Wochenende' (the weekend), 'die Ferien' (the holidays), or simply 'Zeit' (time).

Sentence Structure: Subject + conjugated 'verbringen' + accusative time object + location/manner.

Ich verbringe meine Freizeit gerne im Garten.

Let us break down the conjugation. It is an irregular verb, following the pattern of 'bringen'. The present tense is straightforward: ich verbringe, du verbringst, er/sie/es verbringt, wir verbringen, ihr verbringt, sie/Sie verbringen. In the simple past (Präteritum), which is heavily used in written German and storytelling, the form is 'verbrachte': ich verbrachte, du verbrachtest, er/sie/es verbrachte, wir verbrachten, ihr verbrachtet, sie/Sie verbrachten.

Perfect Tense: Formed with the auxiliary verb 'haben' and the past participle 'verbracht'. Notice there is no 'ge-' prefix because 'ver-' is an inseparable prefix.

Wir haben unseren Hochzeitstag in Paris verbracht.

When constructing sentences, you will frequently add prepositional phrases to provide more context. If you want to say who you spent time with, use 'mit' plus the dative case: 'mit meinen Freunden' (with my friends). If you want to specify where, use prepositions like 'in', 'an', 'auf', or 'bei', usually followed by the dative case since it answers the question 'wo?' (where?).

Er verbringt jeden Sommer bei seinen Großeltern.

Subordinate clauses are also crucial. When 'verbringen' is pushed to the end of a dependent clause, the entire conjugated verb moves.

Subordinate Clauses: The conjugated form of 'verbringen' goes to the very end of the clause.

Ich bin glücklich, wenn wir Zeit zusammen verbringen.

Sie erzählte mir, dass sie das Wochenende im Bett verbracht hat.

Mastering these sentence patterns will make your German sound incredibly natural and fluent. You will be able to effortlessly describe your past experiences, current habits, and future plans regarding how you allocate your most precious resource: time.

You will encounter the verb 'verbringen' in virtually every aspect of German life, from casual small talk to highly formal literature. It is a high-frequency word that bridges the gap between everyday conversational German and sophisticated written texts. One of the most common places you will hear it is in the workplace, particularly on Monday mornings or after a holiday break. Colleagues constantly ask each other, 'Wie hast du dein Wochenende verbracht?' (How did you spend your weekend?) or 'Wo verbringst du deinen Urlaub?' (Where are you spending your vacation?).

Workplace Small Talk: A standard icebreaker to discuss leisure time and build rapport with colleagues.

Haben Sie die Feiertage gut verbracht?

Beyond the office, the travel and tourism industry relies heavily on this verb. Travel brochures, hotel websites, and tour guides frequently use 'verbringen' to entice visitors. You will read phrases like 'Verbringen Sie unvergessliche Tage in den Alpen' (Spend unforgettable days in the Alps).

Verbringen Sie Ihren nächsten Urlaub bei uns!

In the realm of literature and storytelling, 'verbringen' is indispensable for setting the scene and describing a character's history. Biographies often detail where famous figures spent their formative years.

Biographical Contexts: Used to summarize periods of a person's life, often in the simple past tense (Präteritum).

Goethe verbrachte viele Jahre in Weimar.

You will also hear it in medical and institutional contexts. A doctor might ask how much time you spend sitting down, or a news report might state how many years a convicted person will spend in prison.

Der Patient hat drei Wochen im Krankenhaus verbracht.

Everyday Parenting: Parents often talk about how much time their children spend on screens or playing outside.

Die Kinder verbringen zu viel Zeit vor dem Fernseher.

Because it applies to so many different scenarios, mastering 'verbringen' gives you a powerful tool to understand native speakers in almost any environment, from reading a classic German novel to chatting with a neighbor over the garden fence.

When English speakers learn the German verb 'verbringen', they frequently stumble over a few predictable hurdles. The most notorious and widespread mistake is confusing 'verbringen' with 'ausgeben'. In English, the verb 'to spend' is wonderfully versatile; you can spend a hundred dollars, and you can spend three hours. In German, this dual usage does not exist.

The Money vs. Time Trap: Never use 'verbringen' for money. Money is 'ausgegeben' (spent). Time is 'verbracht' (spent).

FALSCH: Ich habe viel Geld verbracht. RICHTIG: Ich habe viel Zeit verbracht.

Another common error involves the prefix 'ver-'. Because many German verbs have separable prefixes (like 'aufstehen' or 'einkaufen'), learners sometimes mistakenly treat 'verbringen' as a separable verb. They might try to say 'Ich bringe meine Zeit in Berlin ver', which is completely incorrect and sounds very strange to a native speaker.

FALSCH: Bringe du den Sommer hier ver? RICHTIG: Verbringst du den Sommer hier?

A third mistake relates to the past participle. Because the root verb is 'bringen', which is an irregular mixed verb (bringen - brachte - gebracht), learners sometimes invent incorrect past participles like 'vergebrungen' or 'vergebringt'.

Past Participle Error: The correct past participle is 'verbracht'. There is no 'ge-' because of the inseparable 'ver-' prefix.

FALSCH: Wir haben den Tag vergebracht. RICHTIG: Wir haben den Tag verbracht.

Additionally, learners sometimes confuse 'verbringen' with 'vergehen'. While both relate to time, their grammatical roles are opposite. 'Verbringen' is active; YOU spend the time. 'Vergehen' is passive; the time passes by itself. You cannot say 'Ich vergehe Zeit' (I pass time).

Die Zeit vergeht schnell, wenn wir sie gut verbringen.

Missing the Accusative Object: 'Verbringen' cannot stand alone. You must state WHAT time is being spent.

FALSCH: Ich verbringe in Berlin. RICHTIG: Ich verbringe meinen Urlaub in Berlin.

By actively avoiding these common pitfalls, you will ensure that your German sounds accurate, natural, and sophisticated, demonstrating a clear grasp of German vocabulary nuances.

While 'verbringen' is the most standard and versatile verb for spending time, the German language offers a rich tapestry of synonyms and alternative expressions that can add nuance, formality, or colloquial flavor to your speech. Understanding these alternatives allows you to tailor your language to the specific context, whether you are writing a formal essay or chatting with friends at a pub. One very common alternative is 'sich aufhalten' (to stay, to linger). This reflexive verb focuses more on the physical presence in a location rather than the active passing of time.

sich aufhalten: To stay or reside temporarily in a place. It is slightly more formal and emphasizes location over duration.

Er hält sich derzeit in München auf, wo er viel Zeit verbringt.

Another excellent synonym is 'zubringen'. It is almost identical in meaning to 'verbringen' but is slightly more elevated or literary. You might encounter it in older texts or formal writing.

Sie hat ihr ganzes Leben in diesem Dorf zugebracht (oder verbracht).

If you want to express a more poetic or archaic sense of staying somewhere, you can use 'weilen' or 'verweilen'. These words evoke a sense of peaceful lingering, often used in poetry or romantic descriptions of nature.

verweilen: To linger, to pause, to stay for a while in a contemplative manner.

Wir verweilten am See, wo wir den Nachmittag verbrachten.

On the other end of the spectrum, if you are talking about wasting time or just killing time, German has some colorful colloquial expressions. 'Die Zeit totschlagen' literally means 'to beat the time to death', which is the exact equivalent of the English idiom 'to kill time'.

Wir mussten am Flughafen drei Stunden totschlagen, die wir lieber anders verbracht hätten.

sich die Zeit vertreiben: To pass the time, usually with a pleasant or distracting activity.

Sie vertreibt sich die Zeit mit Lesen, während sie den Tag im Zug verbringt.

By expanding your vocabulary with these alternatives, you not only avoid repetition but also demonstrate a deeper, more nuanced command of the German language, allowing you to express exactly how you experience the passage of time.

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"Der Präsident verbrachte die Konferenz in intensiven Gesprächen."

Neutral

"Wir verbringen das Wochenende am See."

Informal

"Wo verbringst du heute Abend?"

Child friendly

"Wir verbringen den ganzen Tag auf dem Spielplatz!"

Slang

"Lass uns die Zeit hier totschlagen. (Using a slang alternative)"

Fun Fact

In very old German texts, 'verbringen' could sometimes be used to mean 'to accomplish' or 'to execute' a task, similar to 'vollbringen'. Today, however, if you want to say you accomplished something great, you use 'vollbringen' (e.g., eine Tat vollbringen), while 'verbringen' is strictly reserved for time.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɛɐ̯ˈbʁɪŋən/

US /fɛɐ̯ˈbʁɪŋən/

ver-BRING-en

Rhymes With

singen springen klingen ringen zwingen schwingen gelingen misslingen

Common Errors

Pronouncing the 'v' as an English 'v' instead of an 'f'.
Stressing the first syllable 'VER-bring-en' instead of the second.
Pronouncing a hard 'g' at the end of 'bring'. It should be an 'ng' sound like in 'sing'.
Separating the prefix in spoken sentences (e.g., saying 'Ich bringe ver').
Mispronouncing the past participle as 'ge-ver-bracht' instead of just 'verbracht'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 2/5

Very easy to recognize in texts. The past participle 'verbracht' is also distinct and easy to spot.

Writing 4/5

Requires remembering the inseparable prefix and the irregular past participle, plus the accusative object.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but remembering not to use it for money requires active thought.

Listening 2/5

Clear pronunciation and usually surrounded by obvious time words like 'Urlaub' or 'Wochenende'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

die Zeit der Tag das Wochenende der Urlaub bringen

Learn Next

ausgeben vergehen sich aufhalten stattfinden unternehmen

Advanced

verweilen zubringen die Freizeitgestaltung die Muße das Dasein

Grammar to Know

Inseparable Prefixes

Ich verbringe den Tag hier. (Not: Ich bringe den Tag hier ver.)

Accusative Case for Direct Objects

Ich verbringe DEN Tag (masculine accusative) im Park.

Perfect Tense with Irregular Verbs

Ich habe verbracht. (Uses 'haben' and the irregular participle 'verbracht').

Prepositions with Dative for Location

Ich verbringe Zeit IN DEM (im) Park.

Infinitive Clauses with 'zu'

Ich liebe es, Zeit mit dir ZU verbringen.

Examples by Level

Ich verbringe den Tag zu Hause.

I spend the day at home.

Present tense, 1st person singular. 'den Tag' is the accusative object.

Wo verbringst du das Wochenende?

Where are you spending the weekend?

Question word 'Wo' followed by the conjugated verb.

Er verbringt viel Zeit im Park.

He spends a lot of time in the park.

3rd person singular 'verbringt'. 'im Park' indicates location (dative).

Wir verbringen den Abend zusammen.

We are spending the evening together.

1st person plural 'verbringen'. 'zusammen' means together.

Sie verbringen die Ferien in Italien.

They are spending the holidays in Italy.

3rd person plural. 'die Ferien' is plural.

Verbringt ihr den Sommer hier?

Are you (plural) spending the summer here?

Yes/no question starting with the verb. 2nd person plural.

Ich verbringe gerne Zeit mit dir.

I like spending time with you.

'gerne' indicates preference. 'mit dir' uses the dative case.

Das Kind verbringt den Nachmittag draußen.

The child spends the afternoon outside.

'draußen' is an adverb of place meaning outside.

Ich habe meinen Urlaub in Spanien verbracht.

I spent my vacation in Spain.

Perfect tense with auxiliary 'haben' and past participle 'verbracht'.

Wie hast du das Wochenende verbracht?

How did you spend the weekend?

Question in the perfect tense. 'Wie' asks for the manner.

Wir haben den ganzen Tag am Strand verbracht.

We spent the whole day at the beach.

'den ganzen Tag' is the accusative time expression.

Er hat viel Zeit mit seiner Familie verbracht.

He spent a lot of time with his family.

'mit seiner Familie' requires the dative case after 'mit'.

Sie verbringt jeden Sommer bei ihren Großeltern.

She spends every summer at her grandparents'.

'bei' takes the dative case to indicate staying at someone's place.

Hast du die Feiertage gut verbracht?

Did you spend the holidays well? (Did you have good holidays?)

Common conversational phrase using 'gut' as an adverb.

Ich möchte mehr Zeit in der Natur verbringen.

I want to spend more time in nature.

Modal verb 'möchte' pushes the infinitive 'verbringen' to the end.

Wir verbrachten den Abend im Restaurant.

We spent the evening in the restaurant.

Simple past (Präteritum) 'verbrachten', common in written or narrative German.

Es ist wichtig, dass wir mehr Zeit miteinander verbringen.

It is important that we spend more time with each other.

Subordinate clause introduced by 'dass' moves 'verbringen' to the end.

Weil es regnete, haben wir den Tag im Museum verbracht.

Because it rained, we spent the day in the museum.

Main clause starts with the verb 'haben' because the subordinate 'Weil' clause is in position 1.

Er verbrachte seine gesamte Kindheit in einem kleinen Dorf.

He spent his entire childhood in a small village.

Use of Präteritum 'verbrachte' for a completed life phase.

Ich plane, mein Auslandssemester in Frankreich zu verbringen.

I plan to spend my semester abroad in France.

Infinitive clause with 'zu'. 'zu' comes right before the infinitive.

Jugendliche verbringen heutzutage viel Zeit am Smartphone.

Teenagers nowadays spend a lot of time on their smartphones.

'am Smartphone' (an dem) is the standard prepositional phrase for device usage.

Wir haben Stunden damit verbracht, das Problem zu lösen.

We spent hours solving the problem.

Pronominal adverb 'damit' pointing to the following 'zu' infinitive clause.

Wenn ich reich wäre, würde ich den Winter in der Karibik verbringen.

If I were rich, I would spend the winter in the Caribbean.

Konjunktiv II (conditional) using 'würde' + infinitive.

Sie erzählte mir, wie sie ihre Ferien verbracht hat.

She told me how she spent her holidays.

Indirect question acting as a subordinate clause, verb at the end.

Nachdem er Jahre im Gefängnis verbracht hatte, wurde er entlassen.

After he had spent years in prison, he was released.

Plusquamperfekt (past perfect) 'verbracht hatte' to show an action completed before another past action.

Die meiste Zeit meines Lebens habe ich mit dem Studium verbracht.

I have spent most of my life studying.

Advanced sentence structure starting with the accusative object 'Die meiste Zeit'.

Es gilt als unhöflich, die gesamte Besprechung am Handy zu verbringen.

It is considered impolite to spend the entire meeting on the phone.

Extended infinitive clause with 'zu', expressing a general societal rule.

Viele Rentner entscheiden sich dafür, ihren Lebensabend im Süden zu verbringen.

Many retirees choose to spend the autumn of their lives in the south.

Sophisticated vocabulary ('Lebensabend') combined with a 'dafür... zu' construction.

Anstatt den Abend vor dem Fernseher zu verbringen, las sie ein Buch.

Instead of spending the evening in front of the TV, she read a book.

'Anstatt... zu' construction to express an alternative action.

Die im Stau verbrachte Zeit ist für viele Pendler extrem frustrierend.

The time spent in traffic jams is extremely frustrating for many commuters.

Participial attribute 'Die im Stau verbrachte Zeit' acting as an extended adjective.

Er verbringt seine Freizeit vorwiegend mit ehrenamtlicher Arbeit.

He spends his free time predominantly doing volunteer work.

Use of the advanced adverb 'vorwiegend' and complex noun phrase.

Man kann einen Urlaub kaum schöner verbringen als auf dieser Insel.

One can hardly spend a vacation more beautifully than on this island.

Comparative structure using 'kaum schöner... als'.

Die von ihm in Isolation verbrachten Monate prägten sein weiteres Schaffen maßgeblich.

The months he spent in isolation significantly shaped his subsequent work.

Highly complex participial attribute 'Die von ihm in Isolation verbrachten Monate'.

Es entbehrt nicht einer gewissen Ironie, dass er seine letzten Tage ausgerechnet dort verbrachte.

It is not without a certain irony that he spent his last days there of all places.

Elevated vocabulary ('entbehrt nicht', 'ausgerechnet') with Präteritum.

Wir haben den Nachmittag in angeregter Diskussion über philosophische Fragestellungen verbracht.

We spent the afternoon in animated discussion about philosophical questions.

Abstract prepositional phrase describing the state/manner of spending time.

Die Zeit, die wir mit Warten verbringen, wird oft als verlorene Lebenszeit empfunden.

The time we spend waiting is often perceived as lost lifetime.

Relative clause 'die wir... verbringen' nested within a passive main clause.

Er verbrachte ein halbes Vermögen an Zeit damit, das alte Uhrwerk zu reparieren.

He spent half a fortune in time repairing the old clockwork.

Metaphorical use of 'ein halbes Vermögen an Zeit' (a fortune of time).

Ungeachtet der widrigen Umstände verbrachten sie eine harmonische Zeit miteinander.

Despite the adverse circumstances, they spent a harmonious time together.

Genitive preposition 'Ungeachtet' introducing a formal concessive clause.

Die Studie untersucht, wie viel Zeit Heranwachsende im virtuellen Raum verbringen.

The study investigates how much time adolescents spend in virtual space.

Academic context, indirect question acting as the object of 'untersucht'.

Sie verbrachte Stunden in tiefer Kontemplation versunken.

She spent hours sunk in deep contemplation.

Combination of 'verbringen' with a state participle 'versunken'.

Seine in Melancholie verbrachten Jugendjahre spiegeln sich in jedem seiner Gedichte wider.

His youth, spent in melancholy, is reflected in every one of his poems.

Literary style, extended participial attribute modifying 'Jugendjahre'.

Manch einer verbringt sein Dasein in der steten Erwartung eines Wunders, das nie eintritt.

Many a person spends their existence in the constant expectation of a miracle that never occurs.

Poetic and philosophical vocabulary ('Dasein', 'stete Erwartung').

Die Tage verbrachte er damit, alte Folianten zu studieren, die Nächte mit schlaflosem Grübeln.

He spent the days studying old tomes, the nights with sleepless brooding.

Elliptical sentence structure where 'verbrachte er' is implied in the second half.

Wie viel Lebenszeit wir mit Nichtigkeiten verbringen, wird uns oft erst im Rückblick gewahr.

How much lifetime we spend on trivialities often only becomes apparent to us in retrospect.

Highly sophisticated syntax with a subject clause 'Wie viel... verbringen'.

Sie verbrachte die Sitzung in eisigem Schweigen, was ihre Missbilligung überdeutlich machte.

She spent the meeting in icy silence, which made her disapproval abundantly clear.

Abstract state ('in eisigem Schweigen') followed by a relative clause referring to the whole sentence.

Die in der Enklave verbrachten Dekaden hatten ihn der Außenwelt völlig entfremdet.

The decades spent in the enclave had completely alienated him from the outside world.

Plusquamperfekt combined with a complex participial subject.

Es ist ein Privileg, seine Zeit der Muße und nicht dem bloßen Überlebenskampf verbringen zu dürfen.

It is a privilege to be allowed to spend one's time in leisure and not in the mere struggle for survival.

Dative objects ('der Muße', 'dem Überlebenskampf') used poetically to indicate what time is dedicated to.

Die Epoche, in der er seine fruchtbarsten Jahre verbrachte, war von politischen Umbrüchen gezeichnet.

The epoch in which he spent his most fruitful years was marked by political upheavals.

Relative clause 'in der er... verbrachte' embedded in a formal historical narrative.

Common Collocations

Zeit verbringen

Urlaub verbringen

Wochenende verbringen

Abend verbringen

Ferien verbringen

Nacht verbringen

Leben verbringen

Kindheit verbringen

Stunden verbringen

Tage verbringen

Common Phrases

Wie hast du deinen Urlaub verbracht?

Zeit mit Freunden verbringen

seinen Lebensabend verbringen

schlaflose Nächte verbringen

Zeit am Handy verbringen

die Wartezeit verbringen

viel Zeit verbringen mit...

den Rest seines Lebens verbringen

sinnvoll verbringen

gemeinsam Zeit verbringen

Often Confused With

verbringen vs ausgeben

English speakers confuse them because both mean 'to spend'. Use 'ausgeben' ONLY for money. Use 'verbringen' ONLY for time.

verbringen vs vergehen

Both relate to time. 'Verbringen' is active (I spend time). 'Vergehen' is passive (Time passes).

verbringen vs spenden

Looks like the English word 'spend', but it actually means 'to donate' (e.g., to charity).

Idioms & Expressions

"die Zeit totschlagen"

Literally 'to beat the time to death'. It means to kill time when you are bored or waiting.

Wir mussten drei Stunden am Bahnhof totschlagen.

informal

"sich die Zeit vertreiben"

To pass the time with an activity to avoid boredom. It is less aggressive than 'totschlagen'.

Ich vertreibe mir die Zeit mit einem Kreuzworträtsel.

neutral

"Zeit schinden"

To stall for time. Used when someone is intentionally delaying something.

Der Anwalt versuchte, vor Gericht Zeit zu schinden.

neutral

"seine Zeit absitzen"

To serve time in prison, or metaphorically, to endure a boring situation until it's over.

Er muss noch zwei Jahre im Gefängnis absitzen.

informal

"Zeit verplempern"

To waste time on useless things. A colloquial way of saying 'vergeuden'.

Hör auf, deine Zeit mit Videospielen zu verplempern!

informal

"die Zeit nutzen"

To make good use of time. The positive counterpart to wasting time.

Wir sollten die Zeit nutzen, solange das Wetter schön ist.

neutral

"Zeit ist Geld"

Time is money. A universal idiom emphasizing the value of time.

Wir müssen uns beeilen, denn Zeit ist Geld.

neutral

"mit der Zeit gehen"

To move with the times, to stay modern and up-to-date.

Ein gutes Unternehmen muss mit der Zeit gehen.

neutral

"es ist höchste Zeit"

It is high time. Used when something is urgently overdue.

Es ist höchste Zeit, dass wir losfahren.

neutral

"die Zeit heilt alle Wunden"

Time heals all wounds. A comforting proverb about emotional pain.

Sei nicht traurig, die Zeit heilt alle Wunden.

formal

Easily Confused

verbringen vs ausgeben

Translates to 'spend' in English.

'Ausgeben' is strictly for financial transactions. You hand over money to get something. 'Verbringen' is strictly for the duration of time you exist somewhere or do something.

Ich gebe Geld aus, um meinen Urlaub in Paris zu verbringen.

verbringen vs spenden

Looks and sounds exactly like the English word 'spend'.

This is a classic false friend. 'Spenden' means to donate money, blood, or organs to a charitable cause. It never means to spend time or to spend money on yourself.

Er spendet Geld an das Rote Kreuz, anstatt seine Zeit dort zu verbringen.

verbringen vs vergehen

Both deal with the concept of time passing.

'Vergehen' is what time does by itself. The subject is usually 'die Zeit' (the time). 'Verbringen' is what a person does with time. The subject is a person.

Die Zeit vergeht schnell, wenn wir sie gut verbringen.

verbringen vs bringen

It is the root word of 'verbringen'.

'Bringen' means to bring or fetch an object or a person from one place to another. 'Verbringen' changes the meaning entirely to spending time.

Kannst du mir einen Kaffee bringen, während wir hier Zeit verbringen?

verbringen vs aufwenden

Can also translate to 'spend' or 'expend'.

'Aufwenden' is used for expending energy, effort, or sometimes money/time in a very technical, resource-management sense. 'Verbringen' is the natural word for experiencing time.

Wir müssen viel Energie aufwenden, um das Projekt rechtzeitig zu beenden.

Sentence Patterns

Subject + verbringen + Time Object + Location.

Ich verbringe den Tag zu Hause.

Subject + haben + Time Object + Location + verbracht.

Wir haben den Urlaub in Spanien verbracht.

Weil + Subject + Time Object + Location + verbringen + möchte, ...

Weil ich den Sommer hier verbringen möchte, lerne ich Deutsch.

Subject + verbringen + Time Object + damit, zu + Infinitive.

Er verbringt Stunden damit, zu lesen.

Anstatt + Time Object + Location + zu verbringen, ...

Anstatt den Abend zu Hause zu verbringen, gingen wir aus.

Subject + verbringen + Time Object + vorwiegend mit + Dative Noun.

Sie verbringt ihre Freizeit vorwiegend mit Sport.

Die + Location + verbrachte + Time Object + verb...

Die im Ausland verbrachte Zeit war sehr lehrreich.

Subject + verbringen + Time Object + in + Abstract State.

Er verbrachte seine letzten Jahre in völliger Isolation.

Word Family

Verbs

How to Use It

frequency

Top 500 most common German words.

Common Mistakes

Ich habe viel Geld verbracht. → Ich habe viel Geld ausgegeben.
English uses 'spend' for both time and money. German strictly separates them. Use 'ausgeben' for money and 'verbringen' for time.
Ich bringe das Wochenende zu Hause ver. → Ich verbringe das Wochenende zu Hause.
Learners often think 'verbringen' is a separable verb like 'aufstehen'. It is not. The prefix 'ver-' is inseparable.
Wir haben den Tag vergebracht. → Wir haben den Tag verbracht.
Because 'bringen' becomes 'gebracht', learners logically try to add 'ge-' to 'verbringen'. However, verbs starting with 'ver-' never take a 'ge-' in the past participle.
Ich verbringe in Berlin. → Ich verbringe meinen Urlaub in Berlin.
'Verbringen' requires a direct object stating WHAT time is being spent. You cannot just state the location.
Ich spende viel Zeit mit meinen Kindern. → Ich verbringe viel Zeit mit meinen Kindern.
The English word 'spend' looks like the German word 'spenden'. This is a false friend. 'Spenden' means to donate.

Tips

Never separate the prefix

The 'ver-' in 'verbringen' is glued to the verb forever. Never put it at the end of the sentence.

Money vs. Time

Put a sticky note on your wallet that says 'ausgeben' and a sticky note on your clock that says 'verbringen'.

The 'V' is an 'F'

Pronounce 'verbringen' as if it starts with an 'F'. 'Fair-bring-en'.

Accusative Time

Always use the accusative case for masculine time words: DEN Tag, DEN Monat, DEN Sommer.

Small Talk Essential

Memorize the phrase 'Wie hast du das Wochenende verbracht?' It is the ultimate Monday morning icebreaker.

No 'ge-' in the past

Because of the 'ver-' prefix, the past participle is just 'verbracht'. Do not say 'geverbracht'.

False Friend Alert

Do not use the German word 'spenden' to mean 'spend'. 'Spenden' means to donate to charity.

Word Order

Usually, put the time object right after the verb, before the location: Ich verbringe [den Tag] [im Park].

Using 'damit'

To say you spend time DOING something, use 'damit, zu': Ich verbringe Zeit damit, zu lesen.

Killing Time

If you are bored at an airport, use the phrase 'Zeit totschlagen' instead of 'verbringen' to sound like a native.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Imagine you are BRINGing your time very FAR away on vacation. FAR-BRING-en = verbringen = to spend time.

Visual Association

Picture a giant hourglass. Instead of sand, tiny calendars and clocks are falling through it. You are 'bringing' these clocks through the glass to spend your time.

Word Web

verbringen Zeit Urlaub Wochenende verbracht bringen Dauer Aufenthalt

Challenge

Write down three sentences about where you spent your last three birthdays using the past tense form 'habe ... verbracht'.

Word Origin

The word 'verbringen' comes from Middle High German 'verbringen' and Old High German 'firbringan'. It is composed of the prefix 'ver-' and the verb 'bringen' (to bring). The prefix 'ver-' historically denotes a process of completion, passing away, or consumption. Therefore, 'verbringen' originally meant to bring something to its end or to consume it entirely. Over centuries, its meaning narrowed specifically to the consumption or passing of time.

Original meaning: To bring to an end, to consume, or to accomplish.

Indo-European > Germanic > West Germanic > High German

Cultural Context

No specific cultural sensitivities, but be aware that asking too detailed questions about how someone spends their free time might be considered slightly intrusive in very formal business settings until rapport is built.

English speakers must unlearn the habit of using one word ('spend') for both time and money. This is a major conceptual shift when learning German.

Goethe's biographies frequently discuss where he 'verbrachte' his time, especially his famous 'Italienische Reise'. Thomas Mann's 'Der Zauberberg' is essentially a massive novel about how people 'verbringen' their time in a sanatorium. Many German pop songs feature lyrics about 'Zeit verbringen' with a loved one.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Talking about Vacations

den Urlaub verbringen
die Ferien verbringen
am Strand verbringen
in den Bergen verbringen

Discussing the Weekend

das Wochenende verbringen
zu Hause verbringen
mit der Familie verbringen
Zeit im Garten verbringen

Medical or Institutional Stays

im Krankenhaus verbringen
im Bett verbringen
in Quarantäne verbringen
im Gefängnis verbringen

Daily Routines

den Abend verbringen
die Mittagspause verbringen
Stunden am Computer verbringen
Zeit beim Pendeln verbringen

Life Phases

die Kindheit verbringen
die Jugend verbringen
das Studium verbringen
den Lebensabend verbringen

Conversation Starters

"Wie hast du eigentlich dein letztes Wochenende verbracht?"

"Wo verbringst du normalerweise deinen Sommerurlaub?"

"Verbringst du lieber Zeit in der Stadt oder in der Natur?"

"Mit wem verbringst du am liebsten deine Freizeit?"

"Hast du die Feiertage mit deiner Familie verbracht?"

Journal Prompts

Beschreibe, wie du deinen perfekten Tag verbringen würdest.

Wo hast du deine schönsten Ferien verbracht und warum?

Denkst du, dass du zu viel Zeit am Handy verbringst?

Schreibe darüber, wie du gestern den Abend verbracht hast.

Mit welcher berühmten Person würdest du gerne einen Tag verbringen?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

No, absolutely not. This is the most common mistake English speakers make. In German, you must use 'ausgeben' when talking about spending money. For example, 'Ich gebe Geld aus' (I spend money). You only use 'verbringen' for time, like 'Ich verbringe Zeit' (I spend time).

No, it is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' never detaches from the root verb 'bringen'. In a main clause, you say 'Ich verbringe den Tag hier', not 'Ich bringe den Tag hier ver'. It stays as one word in all tenses.

The past participle is 'verbracht'. Because it has the inseparable prefix 'ver-', it does not take the 'ge-' prefix that many other past participles get. You form the perfect tense with 'haben': 'Ich habe verbracht'.

The direct object of 'verbringen' (the time being spent) must be in the accusative case. For example, 'den ganzen Tag' (the whole day) or 'einen Monat' (a month). However, if you add a location, the preposition might require the dative case, like 'im Park' (in the park).

You would say 'Ich verbringe gerne Zeit mit dir'. The word 'gerne' expresses that you like doing it. 'Zeit' is the accusative object, and 'mit dir' is the prepositional phrase using the dative case.

'Verbringen' is an active verb used when a person spends time (e.g., 'I spend the weekend'). 'Vergehen' is an intransitive verb used when time itself passes (e.g., 'The weekend passes quickly'). You cannot say 'I pass the time' using 'vergehen'.

Generally, no. 'Verbringen' is a transitive verb in this context and requires a direct object, which is almost always a unit of time (Zeit, Urlaub, Wochenende, Tag, etc.). Saying 'Ich verbringe in Berlin' is grammatically incomplete; you must say 'Ich verbringe meinen Urlaub in Berlin'.

It is an irregular mixed verb. It changes its vowel in the past tense like a strong verb (bringen -> brachte), but it also takes the typical '-te' and '-t' endings of a weak verb. The forms are: verbringen (present), verbrachte (simple past), hat verbracht (perfect).

The colloquial idiom for 'to kill time' is 'die Zeit totschlagen'. If you want a slightly more neutral expression for passing the time, you can use 'sich die Zeit vertreiben'. Both are common alternatives to 'verbringen' when talking about avoiding boredom.

Yes, 'verbringen' is perfectly suitable for all registers, including highly formal writing, literature, and academic texts. It is a universal word. In very formal texts, you might also see synonyms like 'zubringen' or 'verweilen', but 'verbringen' is never wrong.