⏱️ 2 min practice • 🔥 CEFR A2

empfehlen

Strong Verb (Class 4: e -> ie) Level A2 ⭐ #54 Most Common

English translation: to recommend

Stem Pattern: du empfiehlst, er empfiehlt / empfahl / empfohlen
💡 Key Usage Note: Takes a Dative person and Accusative object: 'Ich empfehle dir (Dat) dieses Buch (Akk)'.
📘 Linguistic Rule: Stem vowel e lengthens to ie in 2nd and 3rd person singular: empfiehlst, empfiehlt. Past: empfahl, empfohlen.
⚖️ Empfehlen vs Helfen (Dative Rection Verbs)
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Present (Präsens)

Recommending now.

Subject Pronoun Conjugation Audio
ich empfehle
du empfiehlst
er/sie/es empfiehlt
wir empfehlen
ihr empfehlt
sie/Sie empfehlen
💡 Tip: Click any row's audio button to hear native pronunciation
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AI Smart Tutor: 'EMPFEHLEN' Insights

Linguistic breakdowns & native shortcuts

Smart Tips
🧠 Memory Trick (Mnemonic)

Contains the root 'fehlen' (commend / entrust).

⚠️ Most Common Student Mistake
✗ Don't say: Er empfiehlt mich ein Hotel
✓ Say instead: Er empfiehlt mir ein Hotel

Why: The person receiving the recommendation must be in the DATIVE case: mir.

🗣️ Essential Native Idioms with 'empfehlen'
Sich empfehlen

= To bid farewell / take one's leave (Formal)

"Nach dem langen Abendessen empfahl sich der Ehrengast höflich."

Es empfiehlt sich, zu...

= It is advisable to...

"Es empfiehlt sich, rechtzeitig einen Tisch zu reservieren."

🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode

Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'empfehlen'

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Present
ich

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Answer
empfehle

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Frequently Asked Questions: EMPFEHLEN

Is "empfehlen" a regular or irregular verb in German? ▾

"empfehlen" is classified as a Strong Verb (Class 4: e -> ie) verb in German. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "du empfiehlst, er empfiehlt / empfahl / empfohlen". Stem vowel e lengthens to ie in 2nd and 3rd person singular: empfiehlst, empfiehlt. Past: empfahl, empfohlen. Takes a Dative person and Accusative object: 'Ich empfehle dir (Dat) dieses Buch (Akk)'.

What does "empfehlen" mean in English? ▾

In English, "empfehlen" translates primarily to "to recommend". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A2 contexts for everyday communication.

What is the most frequent mistake learners make with "empfehlen"? ▾

A frequent error is saying "Er empfiehlt mich ein Hotel" instead of "Er empfiehlt mir ein Hotel". Why? The person receiving the recommendation must be in the DATIVE case: mir.

What are common idioms or expressions with "empfehlen"? ▾

A popular idiom is "Sich empfehlen" which means "To bid farewell / take one's leave (Formal)" (e.g. "Nach dem langen Abendessen empfahl sich der Ehrengast höflich.").

How can I practice and memorize "empfehlen" conjugations? ▾

Use Verbpedia's built-in interactive flashcards, pronounce each form using native Web Speech audio, and complete the instant mini-quiz below. You can also print a distraction-free A4 cheat sheet using the Print button above.

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Quick Practice: Fill in the Blanks

Test your understanding of 'empfehlen' across tenses

Interactive Quiz
Question 1 ()

How do you conjugate 'er' in the present of empfehlen?

Other Important German Verbs to Study

sein Irregular

to be

haben Irregular

to have

werden Irregular

to become / will (future auxiliary)

können Irregular

can / to be able to

gehen Irregular

to go / to walk

sehen Strong Verb

to see / look

wissen Irregular (Preterite-Present)

to know (facts/information)

bleiben Strong Verb

to stay / remain

geben Strong Verb

to give / there is (es gibt)

sprechen Strong Verb

to speak / talk

fahren Strong Verb

to drive / ride / travel

helfen Irregular (e -> i / Dativ)

to help (takes dative)

nehmen Irregular (e -> imm)

to take

schreiben Strong Verb (Ablaut Class 1: ei-ie-ie)

to write

laufen Strong Verb (Ablaut au-äu / ie / au)

to run / to walk / to function

bringen Mixed Verb (Gemischtes Verb)

to bring / to take to

trinken Strong Verb (Class 3 Ablaut: i-a-u)

to drink

denken Mixed Verb (Gemischtes Verb)

to think

sollen Modalverb (Modal)

should / ought to / to be supposed to

dürfen Modalverb (Modal)

may / to be allowed to / to have permission

finden Strong Verb (Ablaut i-a-u)

to find / to consider / to think of

wollen Modalverb (Modal)

to want / to intend

kommen Strong Verb (Ablaut o-a-o)

to come / to arrive / to originate from

stehen Strong Verb (Ablaut e-a-a)

to stand / to be situated / to suit

lassen Irregular (Modal-like)

to let / to allow / to leave behind

beginnen Inseparable Strong Verb

to begin / to start

schlafen Strong Verb

to sleep

brauchen Weak Regular Verb

to need / to require

glauben Regular Verb

to believe / to think

sitzen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to sit / to be seated

fallen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to fall

tragen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to carry / to wear

treffen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to meet / to hit a target

fliegen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to fly

schließen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to close / to shut / to conclude

vergessen Strong Verb (Class 5: e -> i)

to forget

kennen Mixed Verb (Gemischtes Verb)

to know (be acquainted with)

gewinnen Strong Verb (Class 3b: i - a - o)

to win / to gain

bieten Strong Verb (Class 2: ie - o - o)

to offer / to bid

ziehen Strong Verb (Class 2: Grammatischer Wechsel h -> g)

to pull / to move (relocate)

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