⏱️ 2 min practice • 🔥 CEFR A1

treffen

Irregular (Starkes Verb) Level A1 ⭐ #36 Most Common

English translation: to meet / to hit a target

Stem Pattern: trifft, traf, hat getroffen
💡 Key Usage Note: 'Sich treffen mit' means to meet up with someone; 'treffen' alone takes Akkusativ.
📘 Linguistic Rule: Strong verb: e -> i stem change in 2nd/3rd person present (du triffst, er trifft). Preterite is 'traf'.
⚖️ Treffen vs Kennenlernen (Meeting vs Getting to Know)
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Präsens

Meeting.

Subject Pronoun Conjugation Audio
ich treffe
du triffst
er/sie/es trifft
wir treffen
ihr trefft
sie/Sie treffen
💡 Tip: Click any row's audio button to hear native pronunciation
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AI Smart Tutor: 'TREFFEN' Insights

Linguistic breakdowns & native shortcuts

Smart Tips
🧠 Memory Trick (Mnemonic)

Cognate with 'traffic' and Old English 'drepan' (to hit). Think of meeting in traffic.

⚠️ Most Common Student Mistake
✗ Don't say: Er trefft seine Freunde
✓ Say instead: Er trifft seine Freunde

Why: Treffen has a short vowel change: e -> i with double f (er trifft).

🗣️ Essential Native Idioms with 'treffen'
Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen

= To hit the nail on the head

"Mit dieser Analyse hast du den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen."

Eine Entscheidung treffen

= To make a decision

"Wir müssen bald eine Entscheidung treffen."

🎴 Flashcard Practice Mode

Flip through pronouns to test active recall for 'treffen'

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Präsens
ich

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Answer
treffe

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Frequently Asked Questions: TREFFEN

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

"treffen" is classified as a Irregular (Starkes Verb) verb in German. Its characteristic conjugation pattern is "trifft, traf, hat getroffen". Strong verb: e -> i stem change in 2nd/3rd person present (du triffst, er trifft). Preterite is 'traf'. 'Sich treffen mit' means to meet up with someone; 'treffen' alone takes Akkusativ.

What does "treffen" mean in English? ▾

In English, "treffen" translates primarily to "to meet / to hit a target". In natural speech, it is commonly used across CEFR level A1 contexts for everyday communication.

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

A frequent error is saying "Er trefft seine Freunde" instead of "Er trifft seine Freunde". Why? Treffen has a short vowel change: e -> i with double f (er trifft).

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

A popular idiom is "Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen" which means "To hit the nail on the head" (e.g. "Mit dieser Analyse hast du den Nagel auf den Kopf getroffen.").

How can I practice and memorize "treffen" 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 'treffen' across tenses

Interactive Quiz
Question 1 ()

What is the 3rd person singular present of treffen?

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

fliegen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to fly

schließen Irregular (Starkes Verb)

to close / to shut / to conclude

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