Em 15 segundos
- Means to record video using a camera or smartphone.
- Regular verb: ich filme, du filmst, hat gefilmt.
- Be mindful of German privacy laws when filming in public.
Significado
Using your phone or a camera to capture moving images of something happening right now. It is the simple, everyday way to say you are recording a video.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6At a music concert
Ich filme das ganze Konzert mit meinem Handy.
I am filming the whole concert with my phone.
A tourist asking for help
Könnten Sie uns bitte kurz filmen?
Could you please film us for a moment?
Texting a friend about a funny event
Hast du das gerade gefilmt? Das war so lustig!
Did you just film that? That was so funny!
Contexto cultural
Privacy (Datenschutz) is a constitutional right. Filming individuals in public without consent can lead to legal action. Similar to Germany, Austria has strict rules, especially regarding dashcams in cars, which are often illegal if they record continuously. Public filming is generally okay for private use, but publishing it (e.g., on YouTube) requires consent from everyone visible. Despite strict laws, the 'Vlogging' scene in Berlin is huge, but creators are very careful to blur faces of strangers.
Ask first!
In Germany, always ask 'Darf ich filmen?' before recording people. It's a matter of respect and law.
Accidents
Never film car accidents or emergency services in Germany. It is a crime ('Gaffen').
Em 15 segundos
- Means to record video using a camera or smartphone.
- Regular verb: ich filme, du filmst, hat gefilmt.
- Be mindful of German privacy laws when filming in public.
What It Means
Filmen is the direct equivalent of the English verb "to film." It describes the act of capturing video. Whether you are using a high-end cinema camera or just your smartphone to catch your cat doing something silly, you are filmen. It is a very versatile word that works for both professional movie sets and casual social media clips.
How To Use It
You use it just like any other regular German verb. If you want to say you are filming something, you say Ich filme... followed by the object. For example, Ich filme den Sonnenuntergang. If you are asking someone else to do it, you might say Kannst du das filmen? It is straightforward and does not require any complex grammar tricks. Just remember that the past tense is gefilmt.
When To Use It
Use this anytime you are recording video. It is perfect for telling friends you are making a TikTok or asking a stranger to record a group photo-turned-video. You will hear it at weddings, concerts, and during travel. If you are at a party and someone starts doing a funny dance, you might shout, Das muss ich filmen! to let everyone know you are capturing the moment for posterity.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use filmen if you are only taking a still photo; for that, use fotografieren. Also, avoid using it for audio-only recordings; that would be aufnehmen. Most importantly, be careful using it in public spaces in Germany. If you are filmen strangers without permission, you might get a very grumpy reaction. Germans take their privacy very seriously, so if someone looks annoyed, it is time to put the phone away.
Cultural Background
Germany has some of the strictest privacy laws in the world, known as the DSGVO (GDPR). This means that filmen in public is a bit of a cultural minefield. While it is okay to film a monument, filming a specific person without their consent can lead to legal trouble. There is a strong cultural emphasis on the "Recht am eigenen Bild" (right to one's own image). So, while the word is common, the action is often done with more caution than in the US or UK.
Common Variations
You will often hear einen Film drehen when people talk about professional filmmaking or movies. It literally means "to turn a film," which sounds a bit old-school but is still the standard for cinema. Another common one is mit dem Handy filmen (to film with a mobile phone), which is probably how 99% of people use the verb today. If you want to sound more technical, you might use aufzeichnen for a formal recording.
Notas de uso
The verb 'filmen' is neutral and safe for all contexts. Just be aware of the 'gefilmt' past participle and the cultural sensitivity regarding privacy in German-speaking countries.
Ask first!
In Germany, always ask 'Darf ich filmen?' before recording people. It's a matter of respect and law.
Accidents
Never film car accidents or emergency services in Germany. It is a crime ('Gaffen').
Drehen vs Filmen
Use 'drehen' if you want to sound like a serious filmmaker or YouTuber.
Compound Verbs
Learn 'mitfilmen' for when you are part of a crowd recording an event.
Exemplos
6Ich filme das ganze Konzert mit meinem Handy.
I am filming the whole concert with my phone.
A very common modern usage of the verb.
Könnten Sie uns bitte kurz filmen?
Could you please film us for a moment?
A polite way to ask a stranger to record a video of you.
Hast du das gerade gefilmt? Das war so lustig!
Did you just film that? That was so funny!
Using the perfect tense 'gefilmt' for a past action.
Hör auf mich zu filmen, ich habe noch keinen Kaffee getrunken!
Stop filming me, I haven't had any coffee yet!
A relatable, humorous reaction to being recorded early in the morning.
Wir müssen diesen Moment unbedingt filmen.
We absolutely must film this moment.
Used for capturing significant emotional milestones.
Wird die Präsentation heute gefilmt?
Is the presentation being filmed today?
Passive use in a professional setting.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct form of 'filmen' in the present tense.
Ich ______ meine Freunde im Park.
The subject is 'ich', so the verb ending is '-e'.
Which sentence is correct for asking permission?
You want to record a video in a gallery.
'Filmen' is the correct verb for recording video.
Match the German verb to its English meaning.
Match the following:
All pairs are correctly matched.
Complete the dialogue with the correct past participle.
A: Hast du {den|m} Unfall ______? B: Ja, ich habe alles auf meinem Handy.
The past participle of 'filmen' is 'gefilmt'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Filmen vs. Fotografieren
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosIch ______ meine Freunde im Park.
The subject is 'ich', so the verb ending is '-e'.
You want to record a video in a gallery.
'Filmen' is the correct verb for recording video.
Combine cada item a esquerda com seu par a direita:
All pairs are correctly matched.
A: Hast du {den|m} Unfall ______? B: Ja, ich habe alles auf meinem Handy.
The past participle of 'filmen' is 'gefilmt'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNo, it is the standard word for smartphone videos too.
No, for audio use 'aufnehmen'.
It is 'gefilmt' (e.g., Ich habe gefilmt).
Always 'ich habe gefilmt'.
It is legally complex. Generally, you can film, but you cannot interfere with their work or publish the video if it violates their privacy rights.
'Filmen' is the act of recording; 'drehen' is the professional process of shooting a film.
No, 'filmen' is not separable, but 'abfilmen' and 'mitfilmen' are.
Use the passive: 'Ich werde gefilmt.'
Yes, it's the perfect word for that.
It is neutral. You can use it with friends or in a business meeting.
Frases relacionadas
ein Video drehen
similarto shoot a video
aufnehmen
synonymto record
fotografieren
contrastto take photos
verfilmen
specialized formto adapt into a movie
abfilmen
specialized formto film off a screen
