versorgen
versorgen em 30 segundos
- Versorgen means to provide, supply, or take care of. It is essential for discussing logistics, medical care, and daily chores like feeding pets.
- The key grammatical structure is 'jemanden (Akk) mit etwas (Dat) versorgen'. It is an inseparable verb with a regular conjugation pattern.
- Common contexts include energy supply (Stromversorgung), medical treatment (Wundversorgung), and family care (Kinder versorgen). It implies a necessary or sustained provision.
- Do not confuse it with 'besorgen' (to get/buy). While 'besorgen' is about the act of obtaining, 'versorgen' is about the act of providing and caring.
The German verb versorgen is a multifaceted powerhouse of the B1-B2 level, primarily revolving around the concept of 'provision' and 'care.' At its core, it describes the act of ensuring that a person, an animal, or even a technical system has everything it needs to function, survive, or thrive. This can range from the literal delivery of physical goods like food and water to the more abstract provision of information or medical care.
- Basic Provision
- The most common use involves supplying essential resources. If a city is 'versorgt' with electricity, it means the infrastructure is successfully delivering power to the homes.
- Personal Care
- When applied to living beings, it implies looking after their well-being. This includes feeding a pet, dressing a wound, or financially supporting a family.
"Die Hilfsorganisationen versorgen die Flüchtlinge mit Lebensmitteln und Decken."
In a professional or medical context, 'versorgen' is the standard term for treating a patient. A doctor doesn't just 'look' at a cut; they 'versorgen die Wunde' (treat/dress the wound). This implies a complete cycle of care: cleaning, medicating, and bandaging. The verb carries a sense of responsibility and completion; once someone is 'versorgt,' the immediate need has been met.
"Wer versorgt eigentlich deine Katze, wenn du im Urlaub bist?"
- Financial Security
- It also appears in legal and financial contexts, such as 'Altersversorgung' (pension/retirement provision), referring to how one is 'provided for' in old age.
"Nach dem Unfall wurde der Fahrer sofort medizinisch versorgt."
Using versorgen correctly requires mastering its transitive nature and its specific prepositional partner. It is a regular (weak) verb, making its conjugation straightforward: versorgte (past) and hat versorgt (perfect). However, the syntax is where learners often stumble.
- The Grammatical Formula
- Subject + versorgt + Direct Object (Accusative) + mit + Indirect Object (Dative).
Example: Ich versorge den Hund mit Wasser.
"Das Kraftwerk versorgt die ganze Region mit Energie."
The reflexive form, sich versorgen, is equally vital. It means to provide for oneself or to stock up on something. If you go to the supermarket before a storm, you are 'sich mit Vorräten versorgen' (providing yourself with supplies). This highlights the autonomy of the subject.
"Wir müssen uns noch mit Bargeld versorgen, bevor wir in die Berge fahren."
- Separable vs. Inseparable
- Be careful: 'versorgen' is inseparable. The prefix 'ver-' never detaches. It is NOT 'ich sorge ver'. It is always 'ich versorge'.
"Die Eltern versorgen ihre Kinder bis zum Ende des Studiums."
When discussing logistics or business, 'versorgen' is often used in the passive voice to describe supply chains. 'Der Markt wird täglich mit frischem Obst versorgt' (The market is supplied daily with fresh fruit). This shifts the focus to the recipient and the consistency of the supply.
You will encounter versorgen in four primary spheres of German life. Recognizing these contexts will help you decode the speaker's intent immediately.
- 1. Public Infrastructure & News
- News anchors frequently use this word when discussing energy, water, or internet connectivity. 'Die Gasversorgung' (gas supply) is a major political topic.
- 2. Medical & Emergency Services
- In hospitals (Krankenhäuser) or when an ambulance (Krankenwagen) arrives, the paramedics 'versorgen' the patients. You'll hear: 'Der Patient ist stabil und erstversorgt.'
"Die Nachrichtenagentur versorgt uns rund um die Uhr mit Informationen."
In a domestic setting, 'versorgen' is the go-to word for chores related to living things. If a farmer says he has to 'die Tiere versorgen,' he means feeding, cleaning, and checking on the livestock. In a family, it refers to the daily grind of making sure everyone is fed and clothed.
"Hast du die Blumen schon mit Wasser versorgt?"
- 3. Business & Logistics
- Companies 'versorgen' their customers with products. It implies a reliable, ongoing relationship rather than a one-time sale.
"Unser Unternehmen versorgt über 500 Betriebe mit Softwarelösungen."
Even advanced learners often mix up versorgen with its 'sorgen' cousins. Because they all share the root 'Sorge' (care/worry), the nuances are easily lost.
- Mistake 1: versorgen vs. besorgen
- This is the most frequent error. 'Besorgen' means to get or buy something. 'Versorgen' means to provide or take care of.
Wrong: Ich muss noch Milch versorgen. (Unless you are feeding the milk!)
Right: Ich muss noch Milch besorgen.
"Ich besorge das Ticket, aber ich versorge die Kinder."
Another trap is the preposition. Many learners try to use 'für' because 'sorgen für' (to take care of/ensure) uses it. However, 'versorgen' never takes 'für'. It takes 'mit'.
- Mistake 2: Confusion with 'vorsorgen'
- 'Vorsorgen' means to take precautions or make provisions for the future (like saving money). 'Versorgen' is the act of providing in the present.
"Man sollte für das Alter vorsorgen, um später gut versorgt zu sein."
Finally, don't forget the case. The person being supplied is always in the Accusative. 'Ich versorge ihm (Dat)' is incorrect. It must be 'Ich versorge ihn (Akk)'.
"Bitte versorgen Sie den Patienten [Akk] sofort!"
To truly master versorgen, you must understand its neighbors in the semantic field of 'giving' and 'caring'.
- Verpflegen
- This is a subset of 'versorgen' specifically for food and drink. It's used for soldiers, students in a cafeteria, or hikers. 'Vollverpflegung' means all meals are included.
- Beliefern
- This is strictly commercial. A truck 'beliefert' a supermarket with goods. It lacks the 'care' aspect of 'versorgen'.
"Das Hotel verpflegt seine Gäste exzellent, während die Technikfirma das Haus mit WLAN versorgt."
Then there is ausstatten (to equip). While 'versorgen' is about necessities, 'ausstatten' is about providing tools, furniture, or features. You 'versorgst' a baby with milk, but you 'stattest' the nursery with a crib.
"Die Krankenschwester kümmert sich um den Patienten und versorgt seine Wunden."
- Unterhalten
- In a financial sense, 'unterhalten' means to support someone financially (like alimony/Kindesunterhalt). 'Versorgen' is broader and can include physical care.
"Die Stadt unterhält das Schwimmbad, aber die Stadtwerke versorgen es mit Wasser."
How Formal Is It?
Guia de pronúncia
Nível de dificuldade
Gramática essencial
Inseparable prefixes (ver-)
Verbs with fixed prepositions (mit)
Reflexive verbs in the Accusative
Passive voice (Vorgangspassiv)
Exemplos por nível
Ich versorge meinen Hund.
I take care of my dog.
Direct object in Accusative.
Mama versorgt das Baby.
Mama takes care of the baby.
Simple S-V-O structure.
Wer versorgt die Fische?
Who is taking care of the fish?
Interrogative sentence.
Ich versorge die Blumen.
I am tending to the flowers.
Versorgen used for plants.
Er versorgt uns mit Brot.
He provides us with bread.
Introduction of 'mit'.
Wir versorgen die Katze.
We take care of the cat.
Plural subject.
Versorgst du mich?
Are you taking care of me?
Question form.
Sie versorgt das Pferd.
She takes care of the horse.
Third person singular.
Ich versorge meine Oma mit Lebensmitteln.
I provide my grandma with groceries.
Standard 'mit' construction.
Die Kinder versorgen sich selbst mit Trinken.
The children provide themselves with drinks.
Reflexive 'sich versorgen'.
Mein Bruder versorgt die Nachbarn mit Zeitungen.
My brother supplies the neighbors with newspapers.
Professional-style supply.
Wir haben die Vögel im Winter versorgt.
We took care of the birds in winter.
Perfect tense.
Der Arzt versorgte die kleine Wunde.
The doctor treated the small wound.
Simple past (Präteritum).
Können Sie mich mit Informationen versorgen?
Can you provide me with information?
Modal verb construction.
Die Stadt versorgt uns mit Wasser.
The city supplies us with water.
Public service context.
Ich versorge meine Familie jeden Tag.
I provide for my family every day.
General provision.
Das Krankenhaus versorgt täglich hunderte Patienten.
The hospital treats hundreds of patients daily.
Medical context.
Wir müssen die Flüchtlinge mit Kleidung versorgen.
We must provide the refugees with clothing.
Social/Humanitarian context.
Ein Bauer versorgt seine Tiere auch am Sonntag.
A farmer takes care of his animals even on Sunday.
Consistency of supply.
Die Firma versorgt den Markt mit neuen Produkten.
The company supplies the market with new products.
Business context.
Wer hat dich mit diesen Lügen versorgt?
Who provided you with these lies?
Metaphorical use.
Ich versorge mich im Supermarkt mit allem Nötigen.
I provide myself with everything necessary at the supermarket.
Reflexive use.
Die Wunde muss professionell versorgt werden.
The wound must be professionally treated.
Passive voice with modal.
Solaranlagen versorgen das Haus mit Strom.
Solar panels supply the house with electricity.
Technical/Environmental context.
Die ländlichen Regionen sind oft schlechter mit Internet versorgt.
Rural regions are often poorly supplied with internet.
Adverbial qualification.
Es ist wichtig, für das Alter vorzusorgen, um später gut versorgt zu sein.
It is important to make provisions for old age to be well provided for later.
Contrast between vorsorgen and versorgen.
Die Pipeline versorgt ganz Europa mit Erdgas.
The pipeline supplies all of Europe with natural gas.
Geopolitical context.
Der Veranstalter versorgte die Presse mit Pressemitteilungen.
The organizer provided the press with press releases.
Professional communication.
Sich selbst mit Gemüse zu versorgen, spart viel Geld.
Providing oneself with vegetables saves a lot of money.
Infinitive clause.
Die Rettungskräfte versorgten die Verletzten noch an der Unfallstelle.
The rescue workers treated the injured right at the accident site.
Emergency medical context.
Das Gehirn wird durch das Blut mit Sauerstoff versorgt.
The brain is supplied with oxygen by the blood.
Biological passive.
Wir versorgen unsere Mitarbeiter mit kostenlosem Obst.
We provide our employees with free fruit.
Workplace benefits.
Die flächendeckende Versorgung mit Breitbandinternet ist ein politisches Ziel.
Comprehensive provision of broadband internet is a political goal.
Nominalization: Die Versorgung.
Er versorgte seine Argumentation mit zahlreichen Belegen.
He provided his argumentation with numerous proofs.
Abstract/Academic use.
Die Erstversorgung der Schiffbrüchigen hatte oberste Priorität.
The initial care of the shipwrecked had top priority.
Compound noun: Erstversorgung.
In Krisenzeiten muss der Staat die Grundversorgung sicherstellen.
In times of crisis, the state must ensure basic services.
Political terminology.
Das Herz versorgt den gesamten Organismus mit lebenswichtigen Nährstoffen.
The heart supplies the entire organism with vital nutrients.
Scientific register.
Die Agentur versorgt uns exklusiv mit Insider-Informationen.
The agency provides us exclusively with insider information.
Nuanced adverb use.
Man muss die Wunde säubern, bevor man sie endgültig versorgt.
One must clean the wound before finally dressing it.
Sequential medical care.
Die Stadtwerke versorgen die Haushalte zuverlässig mit Fernwärme.
The municipal utilities reliably supply households with district heating.
Technical infrastructure.
Die ontologische Struktur versorgt das Subjekt mit einer Identität.
The ontological structure provides the subject with an identity.
Philosophical register.
Die Unterversorgung bestimmter Stadtteile führt zu sozialen Spannungen.
The undersupply of certain neighborhoods leads to social tensions.
Prefix 'Unter-' (undersupply).
Es gilt, die Autarkie zu wahren und sich autark zu versorgen.
It is necessary to maintain autarky and provide for oneself independently.
High-level vocabulary (Autarkie).
Die rhetorische Brillanz versorgte die Rede mit der nötigen Gravitas.
The rhetorical brilliance provided the speech with the necessary gravitas.
Metaphorical/Literary.
Eine mangelhafte Blutversorgung kann zu Gewebeschäden führen.
Inadequate blood supply can lead to tissue damage.
Medical precision.
Die Versorgungslage spitzte sich aufgrund der Blockade dramatisch zu.
The supply situation worsened dramatically due to the blockade.
Political/Economic analysis.
Er versorgte seine Erben mit einem beträchtlichen Vermögen.
He provided his heirs with a substantial fortune.
Legal/Inheritance context.
Die Natur versorgt uns großzügig mit allem, was wir zum Überleben brauchen.
Nature generously provides us with everything we need to survive.
Poetic/General truth.
Colocações comuns
Frases Comuns
Frequentemente confundido com
To get/buy vs. to provide/care for.
To take precautions for the future vs. to provide in the present.
To dispose of waste vs. to provide resources.
Expressões idiomáticas
Fácil de confundir
Padrões de frases
Como usar
Specifically refers to the technical act of treating a wound.
Refers to long-term security.
Refers to the flow of goods.
-
Versorgen does not take 'für'. 'Sorgen für' takes 'für'.
-
You 'besorgen' (get/buy) items, you 'versorgen' (provide for) living beings or systems.
-
The person being supplied must be in the Accusative case (mich), not Dative (mir).
-
Versorgen is inseparable. Do not split the prefix.
-
Even in noun form, use 'mit' to indicate what is being supplied.
Dicas
The 'Mit' Rule
Always pair 'versorgen' with 'mit'. It's the most common mistake for B1 learners. Think: 'Supply WITH'.
Versorgen vs. Verpflegen
Use 'verpflegen' only for food and drink. Use 'versorgen' for everything else, including medical care and electricity.
Medical Situations
If you are at a pharmacy or doctor, use 'versorgen' to describe how you've been treating a wound. It sounds very professional.
Infrastructure
When reading the news, 'Versorgung' usually refers to the national grid or supply chains. It's a key word for current events.
The Caretaker
Imagine a caretaker (Hausmeister). He 'versorgt' the building with heat and repairs. He is the 'Versorger'.
Passive Voice
Use the passive 'wird versorgt' to describe how things are delivered. 'Die Stadt wird mit Gas versorgt' is a classic sentence.
B1 Exam Tip
In the B1 exam, you might see 'besorgen' and 'versorgen' in a multiple-choice task. Look for 'mit' – if it's there, the answer is likely 'versorgen'.
Self-Sufficiency
Use 'sich selbst versorgen' to talk about gardening or off-grid living. It's a very popular topic in German culture.
Responsibility
Versorgen implies a duty. You don't just give; you ensure the other party has what they need to survive.
Hospitality
At home, asking 'Kann ich dich mit etwas versorgen?' is a very polite way to offer a guest a drink or snack.
Memorize
Origem da palavra
Contexto cultural
A government office dealing with social security and benefits.
The legal obligation of the state to provide essential services.
Often described as 'den Haushalt versorgend'.
Pratique na vida real
Contextos reais
Iniciadores de conversa
"Wer versorgt deine Haustiere, wenn du weg bist?"
"Wie wird deine Stadt mit Energie versorgt?"
"Hast du dich schon mit Vorräten für das Wochenende versorgt?"
"Wie wichtig ist dir eine gute Altersversorgung?"
"Wer hat dich mit diesen interessanten Neuigkeiten versorgt?"
Temas para diário
Beschreibe, wie du dich selbst mit gesunder Nahrung versorgst.
Wer hat dich in deiner Kindheit am meisten versorgt?
Stell dir vor, die Stromversorgung fällt für drei Tage aus. Was tust du?
Wie versorgst du dich geistig mit neuen Ideen?
Was bedeutet 'gut versorgt sein' für dich persönlich?
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntas'Besorgen' means to obtain or buy something that you don't have yet. 'Versorgen' means to provide someone with something they need or to take care of them. For example, you 'besorgst' a gift, but you 'versorgst' a baby with milk. They are often confused because they look similar. Remember: 'Be-' is for getting, 'Ver-' is for giving/caring.
Yes, 'versorgen' is very flexible. You can 'versorgen' a person (medical care), an animal (feeding), a plant (watering), or even a machine (providing fuel). It always implies giving the subject what it needs to function or survive. It is one of the most versatile verbs in German for the concept of 'supply'.
No, 'versorgen' is an inseparable verb. The prefix 'ver-' stays attached to the root 'sorgen' in all tenses. You say 'Ich versorge', not 'Ich sorge ver'. This is a common rule for verbs starting with 'ver-', 'be-', 'er-', 'ge-', and 'ent-'.
It almost always uses 'mit' followed by the Dative case. The person or thing being supplied is in the Accusative case. Example: 'Ich versorge ihn (Akk) mit Wasser (Dat)'. Never use 'für' with 'versorgen', even though 'sorgen für' is a common phrase.
'Sich versorgen' is the reflexive form, meaning to provide for oneself. It is often used when talking about shopping for necessities or being self-sufficient. For example, 'Wir versorgen uns selbst mit Gemüse aus dem Garten' means 'We provide ourselves with vegetables from the garden'.
In medicine, it means to treat or dress a wound or to care for a patient. You can say 'Der Arzt versorgt die Wunde' (The doctor treats the wound). In this specific context, you don't always need the 'mit' construction because the 'care' is the object itself.
'Daseinsvorsorge' is a complex German term related to 'versorgen'. It refers to the state's responsibility to provide basic public services like water, electricity, waste disposal, and public transport. It is a key concept in German political and social life.
Yes, the past participle 'versorgt' can be used as an adjective. 'Ich bin gut versorgt' means 'I am well provided for' or 'I have everything I need'. It describes a state of having all necessities met.
A 'Versorger' is a provider or supplier. It is most commonly used for utility companies, like an 'Energieversorger' (energy provider). It can also refer to a breadwinner in a family, though this is slightly more old-fashioned.
No. While the root 'sorgen' means 'to worry', the prefix 'ver-' changes the meaning completely. 'Sich sorgen' is to worry, but 'versorgen' is to provide. Do not mix these up in conversation!
Teste-se 180 perguntas
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Perfect score!
Summary
Versorgen is the ultimate 'utility' verb in German. Whether you are talking about a city's power grid, a doctor bandaging a wound, or a parent feeding a child, this word covers the essential act of providing what is necessary for life and function.
- Versorgen means to provide, supply, or take care of. It is essential for discussing logistics, medical care, and daily chores like feeding pets.
- The key grammatical structure is 'jemanden (Akk) mit etwas (Dat) versorgen'. It is an inseparable verb with a regular conjugation pattern.
- Common contexts include energy supply (Stromversorgung), medical treatment (Wundversorgung), and family care (Kinder versorgen). It implies a necessary or sustained provision.
- Do not confuse it with 'besorgen' (to get/buy). While 'besorgen' is about the act of obtaining, 'versorgen' is about the act of providing and caring.
The 'Mit' Rule
Always pair 'versorgen' with 'mit'. It's the most common mistake for B1 learners. Think: 'Supply WITH'.
Versorgen vs. Verpflegen
Use 'verpflegen' only for food and drink. Use 'versorgen' for everything else, including medical care and electricity.
Medical Situations
If you are at a pharmacy or doctor, use 'versorgen' to describe how you've been treating a wound. It sounds very professional.
Infrastructure
When reading the news, 'Versorgung' usually refers to the national grid or supply chains. It's a key word for current events.
Exemplo
Die Familie versorgt sich selbst mit Gemüse aus dem Garten.
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