German Separable Verbs (Trennbare Verben) Explained
Separable verbs are written as one word in the infinitive (aufstehen) but split apart in a main clause (ich stehe auf). Learn common prefixes, when splitting happens, Perfekt ge- placement, and separable vs inseparable prefixes.
Separable verbs are written as one word in the infinitive (aufstehen) but split apart in a main clause, sending the prefix to the end of the sentence (ich stehe auf). This guide covers the common separable prefixes, exactly when splitting happens (and when it doesn't), how they behave in Perfekt, and how to tell separable from inseparable prefixes. Pair this with our word order guide and Top 100 German Verbs, which already includes 15 separable verbs to practice.
What are separable verbs?
A separable verb is a base verb plus a prefix that changes its meaning — similar to English phrasal verbs like "wake up" or "call back." In German, that prefix detaches from the verb and moves to the end of the sentence when the verb is conjugated in a main clause.
aufstehen (to get up) → Ich stehe um sieben Uhr auf. (I get up at seven o'clock.)
The infinitive looks like one word, but in an actual sentence, the prefix and verb split apart. For drills and theory on this topic, see our separable verbs grammar page and separable verb exercises.
Common separable prefixes
Almost 25% of all German verbs from A1 to B1 are separable. These prefixes are always separable:
| Prefix | Example verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| auf- | aufstehen | to get up |
| an- | anrufen | to call (phone) |
| aus- | ausgehen | to go out |
| ein- | einkaufen | to shop |
| mit- | mitkommen | to come along |
| nach- | nachdenken | to think over |
| vor- | vorbereiten | to prepare |
| weg- | weggehen | to go away |
| zurück- | zurückkommen | to come back |
| los- | losfahren | to set off/depart |
| fern- | fernsehen | to watch TV |
| zu- | zumachen | to close |
When separable verbs actually split
| Situation | Splits? | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Main clause, present tense | Yes | Ich rufe dich an. (I'm calling you.) |
| Main clause, simple past (Präteritum) | Yes | Ich rief dich an. (I called you.) |
| With a modal verb | No — stays together as infinitive at the end | Ich möchte dich anrufen. (I would like to call you.) |
| In a subordinate clause | No — stays together at the end | Ich weiß, dass ich dich anrufen muss. (I know that I have to call you.) |
| In Perfekt | No — but ge- is inserted between the prefix and the stem | Ich habe dich angerufen. (I have called you.) |
That last row is the one worth memorizing carefully: in Perfekt, the prefix and verb stay together as one word, but ge- goes in the middle rather than at the front — an + ge + rufen = angerufen, not geanrufen. See our Perfekt tense guide for more on participle formation.
20 common separable verbs to know
| Verb | Meaning | Present tense example |
|---|---|---|
| aufstehen | to get up | Er steht früh auf. |
| einkaufen | to shop | Wir kaufen ein. |
| anrufen | to call | Ich rufe an. |
| fernsehen | to watch TV | Sie sieht fern. |
| aufmachen | to open | Mach die Tür auf. |
| zumachen | to close | Mach das Fenster zu. |
| mitkommen | to come along | Kommst du mit? |
| ankommen | to arrive | Der Zug kommt an. |
| weggehen | to go away | Sie geht weg. |
| vorbereiten | to prepare | Ich bereite alles vor. |
| aufräumen | to tidy up | Wir räumen auf. |
| anfangen | to begin | Der Film fängt an. |
| aussehen | to look/appear | Du siehst müde aus. |
| einladen | to invite | Ich lade dich ein. |
| abholen | to pick up | Er holt mich ab. |
| zurückkommen | to come back | Wann kommst du zurück? |
| ausgehen | to go out | Wir gehen heute aus. |
| umziehen | to move (house) | Sie zieht nächsten Monat um. |
| teilnehmen | to participate | Ich nehme teil. |
| vorstellen | to introduce/present | Ich stelle das Projekt vor. |
Separable vs. inseparable prefixes
Not every prefix behaves the same way — some are always separable, some are always inseparable (they never detach and never take ge- in Perfekt), and a few can be either depending on the verb.
| Type | Prefixes | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Always separable | auf-, an-, aus-, ein-, mit-, nach-, vor-, weg-, zurück-, los-, fern-, zu- | aufstehen → steht auf |
| Always inseparable | be-, ge-, er-, ver-, zer-, ent-, emp-, miss- | besuchen → besucht (never splits, no ge- in Perfekt: besucht, not bebesucht) |
| Can be either | durch-, über-, um-, unter-, wieder- | übersetzen (to translate, inseparable) vs. übersetzen (to ferry across, separable) — meaning shifts with stress and separability |
The always-inseparable prefixes are worth memorizing as a fixed list — they're the same handful every time, and they never split or take ge-.
7-day study plan
- Day 1: Learn the always-separable prefix list and 5 common separable verbs
- Day 2: Practice splitting them in present-tense main clauses
- Day 3: Practice with modal verbs (infinitive stays together at the end)
- Day 4: Practice in subordinate clauses (weil, dass, wenn — stays together at the end)
- Day 5: Perfekt tense — practice inserting ge- in the middle of the verb
- Day 6: Learn the always-inseparable prefix list (be-, ver-, er-, ent-, ge-, zer-, emp-, miss-)
- Day 7: Review the "can be either" prefixes and test yourself with mixed sentences — then try our separable verb exercises
Common mistakes
- Leaving the prefix attached instead of moving it to the end (Ich aufstehe ❌ → Ich stehe auf ✓)
- Adding ge- before the whole verb in Perfekt instead of inserting it between prefix and stem (geanrufen ❌ → angerufen ✓)
- Splitting the verb even when a modal verb or subordinate clause requires it to stay together
- Treating inseparable prefixes (be-, ver-, er-...) as if they split — they never do
- Forgetting that a handful of prefixes (durch-, über-, um-, unter-, wieder-) can go either way depending on the specific verb and meaning
FAQ
How do I know if a verb is separable? Most dictionaries mark separable verbs with a vertical line or dot in the infinitive (e.g., auf|stehen). Beyond that, the always-separable and always-inseparable prefix lists cover the majority of cases.
Does the prefix carry meaning on its own? Yes — prefixes shift the base verb's meaning in fairly consistent ways (an- often adds a sense of "toward," aus- often adds "out of/completion"), which makes patterns easier to spot once you've learned enough examples.
Do separable verbs exist in other tenses too? Yes — they split in Präteritum (simple past) the same way they do in the present tense, and behave the same way with modals and subordinate clauses across tenses.
Is it 25% of all German verbs? Roughly — separable verbs make up a substantial share of everyday A1–B1 vocabulary, which is why they're worth learning as their own category early on.
Once separable verbs feel natural, review word order for how they interact with subordinate clauses, and Perfekt tense for the ge- placement rule. Then practice with verb exercises and see them in context in Top 100 German Verbs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a verb is separable?
Most dictionaries mark separable verbs with a vertical line or dot in the infinitive (e.g., auf|stehen). Beyond that, the always-separable and always-inseparable prefix lists cover the majority of cases.
Does the prefix carry meaning on its own?
Yes — prefixes shift the base verb's meaning in fairly consistent ways (an- often adds a sense of "toward," aus- often adds "out of/completion"), which makes patterns easier to spot once you've learned enough examples.
Do separable verbs exist in other tenses too?
Yes — they split in Präteritum (simple past) the same way they do in the present tense, and behave the same way with modals and subordinate clauses across tenses.
Is it 25% of all German verbs?
Roughly — separable verbs make up a substantial share of everyday A1–B1 vocabulary, which is why they're worth learning as their own category early on.
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