Log in Start learning
Illustration of the A2 German word “absagen”, which translates to “to cancel, decline”. A gnome in a top hat pops a floating party-invitation balloon with a pin, then waves goodbye with a sad little shrug.
Learn this word for free

absagen is one of the A2 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

absagen

to cancel, decline

/ˈapˌzaːɡn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

absagen, sagte ab, hat abgesagt

ich sage ab
du sagst ab
er/sie/es sagt ab
wir sagen ab
ihr sagt ab
sie/Sie sagen ab

Practice "absagen"

Examples — absagen in a sentence

Ich muss unseren Termin absagen.

I have to cancel our appointment.

Sie hat die Einladung leider abgesagt.

Unfortunately, she declined the invitation.

How to remember it

AP-zah-gen sounds like 'off say again'. They 'say off again' that they have to *cancel*.

Word family

sagen family · 12 related words

  • absagen to cancel, decline Shifted meaning
  • ansagen announce
  • aussagen state / testify Shifted meaning
  • besagen Coming soon to state, to mean Shifted meaning
  • vorhersagen to predict
  • weitersagen Coming soon to pass on, to tell others
  • zusagen to accept (invitation) Shifted meaning
  • die Absage cancellation, decline
Explore family →

More A2 words

Illustration of the A2 German word “anfangen”, which translates to “to begin, to start”. A clockwork tortoise winds its own key, gears clicking into motion for the very first time.
anfangen

/ˈanˌfaŋən/

Tap to see details

to begin, to start

Principal parts

anfangen, fing an, hat angefangen

ich fange an
du fängst an
er/sie/es fängt an
wir fangen an
ihr fangt an
sie/Sie fangen an

Examples

Der Kurs fängt um neun Uhr an.

The course starts at nine o'clock.

Wir haben gerade angefangen zu essen.

We just started eating.

Ask ChatGPT
Illustration of the A2 German word “anrufen”, which translates to “to call (phone)”. A telephone shaped like a seashell, where speaking into it releases a glowing bubble that travels through the air to reach a distant friend.
anrufen

/ˈanˌʁuːfn̩/

to call (phone)

Principal parts

anrufen, rief an, hat angerufen

ich rufe an
du rufst an
er/sie/es ruft an
wir rufen an
ihr ruft an
sie/Sie rufen an

Examples

Ich muss meine Mutter anrufen.

I need to call my mother.

Hast du ihn schon angerufen?

Have you called him yet?

Ask ChatGPT
Illustration of the A2 German word “die Ansage”, which translates to “announcement, outgoing message”. A wooden megaphone perched on a cloud, speaking bubbles of golden light that drift down to tell people secret, happy messages.
die Ansage

/ˈanzaːɡə/

announcement, outgoing message

Examples

Ich habe die Ansage am Telefon nicht verstanden.

I didn't understand the announcement on the phone.

Die letzte Ansage war sehr wichtig für uns.

The last announcement was very important for us.

Ask ChatGPT
Illustration of the A2 German word “die App”, which translates to “app”. A tiny, frantic wizard inside a smartphone screen is desperately juggling glowing, colorful floating icons, sweat dripping down his nose as he tries to keep the app from crashing.
die App

/ɛp/

app

Examples

Ich lade die neue App auf mein Handy herunter.

I am downloading the new app to my phone.

Kannst du mir diese App empfehlen?

Can you recommend this app to me?

Ask ChatGPT
Illustration of the A2 German word “aufhören”, which translates to “to stop, to cease”. A hamster on a wheel hits an invisible wall and stops dead, paws out, with a wide-eyed surprised expression.
aufhören

/ˈaʊ̯fˌhøːʁən/

to stop, to cease

Principal parts

aufhören, hörte auf, hat aufgehört

ich höre auf
du hörst auf
er/sie/es hört auf
wir hören auf
ihr hört auf
sie/Sie hören auf

Examples

Hör bitte auf zu reden!

Please stop talking!

Sie haben spät aufgehört zu arbeiten.

They stopped working late.

Ask ChatGPT
Illustration of the A2 German word “bekommen”, which translates to “to receive, to get”. Close-up of two cupped hands catching a falling star that turns into a warm glowing parcel tied with a ribbon of light, the parcel filling the frame.
bekommen

/bəˈkɔmən/

to receive, to get

Principal parts

bekommen, bekam, hat bekommen

ich bekomme
du bekommst
er/sie/es bekommt
wir bekommen
ihr bekommt
sie/Sie bekommen

Examples

Ich bekomme oft Post von dir.

I often get mail from you.

Er hat ein schönes Geschenk bekommen.

He received a nice gift.

Ask ChatGPT
View this word →
1 / 6

anfangen — to begin, to start

anfangenanrufenAnsageAppaufhörenbekommenAll German word pages

Start learning German.
For real this time.

Personalized study plan, exercises, and the full 8-unit A1 course. A1 free forever — plus 14 days of full access, no card needed.

Start A1 free