Dictionary > zu verbs

Here's a quick overview with translations. For family, examples and more check the details.

betragen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat betragen
Preterite (written past): betrug

1.
to be

(For amount or sums. People use it in writing or semi formal contexts when they feel that a simple "ist" sounds too "basic" (it doesn't).)

2.
to comport oneself, to behave

("sich+Acc betragen" - very rare and pretty much only in books. "sich verhalten" is the more common word.)

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dazugeben

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat dazugegeben
Preterite (written past): gab dazu

1.
to add

(Mostly in context of cooking, also "hinzugeben". The common colloquial choice, however, is ranmachen.)

2.
to pitch in

(Mostly in context of buying someone a gift as a group)

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hinzufügen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat hinzugefügt
Preterite (written past): fügte hinzu

1.
to add

(Sounds a bit formal and it's mostly used for non-tangible things like ideas or tags or something other "online")

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zuarbeiten
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugearbeitet
Preterite (written past): arbeitete zu

1.
to assist someone, to do someone's groundwork

("jemandem^{+ Dat} zuarbeiten" - The idea is that someone does all kinds of supporting work while someone else is the main project lead. Not commonly used for an actual assistant or secretary.)

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zubeißen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugebissen
Preterite (written past): biss zu

1.
to bite

(It's for the first "bite" and has an element of attack. Think of a dog barking and then biting.)

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zubereiten
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zubereitet
Preterite (written past): bereitete zu

1.
to make, to prepare

(ONLY for food. Sounds a bit fancy and you find it a LOT in cook books.)

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zubinden
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugebunden
Preterite (written past): band zu

1.
to tie "closed"

(Only for contexts where you close something by tying a knot. Best example are shoe laces. For wounds, "verbinden" is the word, even though the focus is closure.)

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zubringen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugebracht
Preterite (written past): brachte zu

1.
to spend

(ONLY for time and time based things like "life" for example. Sounds old school. )

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zudecken

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugedeckt
Preterite (written past): deckte zu

1.
to tuck sb in

(used in context of sleeping)

2.
to cover

(the sense of completely cover something. Rarely used, but sounds good for snow covering a landscape for instance.)

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zudrehen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugedreht
Preterite (written past): drehte zu

1.
to close

(For faucets, because originally they were turned. Often used figuratively for flow of money or gas and oil)

Opposite (closest): aufdrehen

2.
to turn your face/body toward

("jemandem^+Dat etwas+Acc zudrehen" - most commonly used for turning your back to someone, in the literal sense.)

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zufahren auf
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): ist zugefahren
Preterite (written past): fuhr zu

1.
to drive (straight) toward something

("zufahren auf+Acc" - The "auf" must always be there.)

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zufallen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): ist zugefallen
Preterite (written past): fiel zu

1.
to fall shut

(doors, windows, eyes - closing by themselves)

2.
to fall to someone

("jemandem zufallen". Used for either responsibilities, tasks or talent.)

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zufrieren
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): ist zugefroren
Preterite (written past): fror zu

1.
to freeze over

(bodies of water)

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zugeben

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugegeben
Preterite (written past): gab zu

1.
to admit

("admit" in the sense of admitting a fact. NOT admitting in the sense of "allowing to enter". For "adding something", "dazugeben" is the idiomatic choice.)

Opposite (closest): abstreiten

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zugehen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): ist zugegangen
Preterite (written past): ging zu

1.
to close by itself

(With a "nicht" it basically means that something can't be closed. Past tends to be built with the preterite.)

Opposite (closest): aufgehen

2.
to approach someone

("zugehen auf+Acc" - can be physical but it also works in the sense of compromise. Past is done with "spoken past".)

3.
to go on, to be

(In the sense of something going on somewhere. Usually used in combination with "es" for "things" and often with "wie" in the sense of "how" things are done. Past is usually preterite.)

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zugestehen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugestanden
Preterite (written past): gestand zu

1.
to concede something to someone

("jemandem etwas zugestehen" - not used in formal contexts, but also too "epic" sounding for daily life. Has a vibe of empathy.)

2.
to acknowledge, to concede

(Mostly used for some facts you kinda sorta would like to not be real.)

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zugreifen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugegriffen
Preterite (written past): griff zu

1.
to seize, to grab

(The moment when you grab something. Usually, it implies a bit of force.)

2.
to seize, to take

(In the context of seizing an opportunity or take something that was offered.)

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zugucken
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeguckt
Preterite (written past): guckte zu

1.
to watch, to look

(While someone is doing something or something is happening. The focus is on observing here. NOT a good fit for watching a series.)

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zuhaben

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugehabt
Preterite (written past): hatte zu

1.
to be closed

(for stores and bars and so on, NOT for doors or purses)

Opposite (closest): aufhaben

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zuhalten
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugehalten
Preterite (written past): hielt zu

1.
to hold shut

(Mainly used for doors.)

Opposite (closest): aufhalten

2.
to move straight toward

("zuhalten auf+Acc" - in the sense of driving or walking toward something or someone. MUST be used with "auf" as a preposition. )

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zuhauen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugehauen
Preterite (written past): haute zu

1.
to strike a blow

(Only in the sense of actual punches.)

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zuhören
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugehört
Preterite (written past): hörte zu

1.
to listen

(In the sense of paying attention to the content of you're listening to. You can "hören" a podcast without actually listening, for example. Quite common word in contexts of relationships. The "entity" you're listening is in Dative, no direct object here.)

Opposite (closest): erzählen

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zujubeln
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugejubelt
Preterite (written past): jubelte zu

1.
to cheer at someone or something

("jemandem zujubeln" with Dative)

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zukaufen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugekauft
Preterite (written past): kaufte zu

1.
to buy "in addition"

(Sounds formal. One area of use is for an investor adding more shares to a position they already have. Can also be used for buying components for your machine from external sources.)

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zukehren
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugekehrt
Preterite (written past): kehrte zu

1.
to turn something toward someone

("jemandem etwas zukehren" - ONLY in context of body parts, mainly back and front)

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zuklappen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeklappt
Preterite (written past): klappte zu

1.
to close

(ONLY for books and magazines. NOT for doors or windows.)

Opposite (closest): aufklappen

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zukommen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): ist zugekommen
Preterite (written past): kam zu

1.
to belong to, to be due to, "to have"

("jemandem zukommen" - mainly used in the sense of someone having/getting a task, responsibility or praise. Pretty rare overall and not idiomatic many times.)

2.
to come toward someone

("zukommen auf+Acc" - can be used in a local sense, but also figuratively for positions in a negotiation, for example. MUST be used with "auf".)

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zukriegen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugekriegt
Preterite (written past): kriegte zu

1.
to get sth. to close

(like your pants after Christmas)

Opposite (closest): aufkriegen

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zulassen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugelassen
Preterite (written past): ließ zu

1.
leave closed

(As in "not opening".)

Opposite (closest): auflassen

2.
allow, permit

(Has a bit of a focus of "not preventing". Also used for conditions allowing a certain activity (or not).)

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zulegen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugelegt
Preterite (written past): legte zu

1.
to add, to increase

(Mainly used for someone's performance. Sometimes also used for prices and people's weight.)

2.
to get, to buy

("sich^+Dat etwas zulegen" - colloquial term for purchasing something, for items that you "add" to your collection of things you own. Like a car, a coffee grinder or a set of dumbbells. Not idiomatic for food items or digital goods.)

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zumachen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugemacht
Preterite (written past): machte zu

1.
to close

(More common than "schließen", but it does NOT imply locking by key. Also, it does not work for stuff closing automatically. )

Opposite (closest): aufmachen

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zumuten
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugemutet
Preterite (written past): mutete zu

1.
to impose

("jemandem etwas zumuten"... used in context of exposing someone to or burden someone with something unpleasant, discomfortable)

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zunähen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugenäht
Preterite (written past): nähte zu

1.
to sew closed

(Think of a surgeon closing a wound.)

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zunehmen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugenommen
Preterite (written past): nahm zu

1.
to increase and to go up

(always done by the thing itself, you can NOT "zunehmen" something)

Opposite (closest): abnehmen

2.
to gain weight

(very common in daily life, especially in lock-down)

Opposite (closest): abnehmen

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zuordnen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeordnet
Preterite (written past): ordnete zu

1.
to allocate something to someone, to classify something as part of a group

("etwas (Acc) einer Sache ^(Dat) zuordnen" - the translations depend on context but the core idea is that you take an item (thing, being) and say "This belongs to this item/being/group". That can be for categorization as well as for assignments.)

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zupacken
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugepackt
Preterite (written past): packte zu

1.
to grab with force

(The focus is on the moment of grabbing. Sounds very hands-on.)

2.
to dig in, to knuckle down

(Figurative use for the idea of tackling a task that has to be done and giving full strength. Think of helping your neighbor clearing out the garage.)

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zuprosten

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeprostet
Preterite (written past): zuprostete

1.
to raise the glass toward someone

("jemandem zuprosten" - it's like a wink, only with a glass.)

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zusagen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugesagt
Preterite (written past): sagte zu

1.
to confirm, to affirm, to promise

(A slightly formal sounding verb for affirming a request of sorts. The person you say "Yes" to is the indirect object, the "thing" you promise can be the direct object, but that's rare. )

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zuschauen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschaut
Preterite (written past): schaute zu

1.
to watch

(In the sense of watching something happening or someone doing something. Works for watching a show but NOT really for watching TV (though you are called Zuschauer if you do it). Same meaning as "zugucken", but it sounds a bit more serious.)

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zuschicken
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschickt
Preterite (written past): schickte zu

1.
to send someone something

("jemandem^+Dat etwas+Acc zuschicken" - only used in this structure. )

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zuschieben

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschoben
Preterite (written past): schob zu

1.
to shove closed

Opposite (closest): aufschieben

2.
to pass blame

("jemandem die Schuld zuschieben")

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zuschlagen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschlagen
Preterite (written past): schlug zu

1.
to punch

(If you want to generically talk about throwing punches, "schlagen" alone would sound a bit naked without a direction.)

2.
to close

(for books and magazines)

Opposite (closest): aufschlagen

3.
to take, to pounce, to attack

(ONLY for offers, opportunities and it context of doing a hit-job of some kind. )

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zuschnappen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschnappt
Preterite (written past): schnappte zu

1.
to latch at

(For instance an animal suddenly trying to bite your finger)

2.
to snap closed

(for latches and figuratively also for traps)

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zuschrauben
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschraubt
Preterite (written past): schraubte zu

1.
to screw shut

(For bottles and jars.)

Opposite (closest): aufschrauben

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zuschreiben
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugeschrieben
Preterite (written past): schrieb zu

1.
to ascribe, to attribute

(ONLY in the sense of "placing" features or works on someone or something. Sounds a bit high register and you don't hear it much in daily life.)

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zusehen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugesehen
Preterite (written past): sah zu

1.
to watch

(In the sense of watching a spectacle unfold. NOT for TV shows or Youtube. "zugucken" or "zuschauen" are more common in most regions.)

2.
to hurry

("zusehen, dass..." - similar to the English phrasing "to see to something". The core idea is to hurry up a bit. )

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zusetzen
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugesetzt
Preterite (written past): setzte zu

1.
to add

(Mainly, in context of industrial food production, and there, the noun "der Zusatz" is more common. NOT for normal cooking when you add salt or something.)

2.
to give a hard time

("jemandem zusetzen" - mainly for situations and circumstances that give someone a hard time. Think of continued stress at work or cold temperatures. NOT for a difficult task or a person giving you a hard time.)

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zusperren
(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugesperrt
Preterite (written past): sperrte zu

1.
to lock

(Slightly old school, rare option for locking a door. More common in the south. Not for locking bikes or cars.)

Opposite (closest): aufsperren

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zuspitzen (sich)

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugespitzt
Preterite (written past): spitzte zu

1.
to come to a head, to escalate

(Mostly for situations.)

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zustehen

(zu verb)
Perfect (spoken past): hat zugestanden
Preterite (written past): stand zu

1.
to be entitled to, to be due to sb, to have a claim on

( "jemandem zustehen" - the idea is that something "stand" to you in the sense that you should rightfully have it. )

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Dictionary > zu verbs

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