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Illustration of the A2 German word “erfinden”, which translates to “to invent”. An inventor sketching in the air with a glowing quill, creating a floating bicycle out of pure light and imagination.
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erfinden is one of the A2 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

erfinden

to invent

/ɛɐ̯ˈfɪndn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

erfinden, erfand, hat erfunden

ich erfinde
du erfindest
er/sie/es erfindet
wir erfinden
ihr erfindet
sie/Sie erfinden

Practice "erfinden"

Examples — erfinden in a sentence

Wer hat das Telefon erfunden?

Who invented the telephone?

Ich muss eine gute Ausrede erfinden.

I have to invent a good excuse.

How to remember it

AIR-FIN-den sounds like 'air fin'. Imagine an inventor trying to invent a fin for flying through the air.

Word family

finden family · 10 related words

  • auffinden Coming soon to locate, to find
  • befinden be located / find oneself Not predictable
  • erfinden to invent Shifted meaning
  • herausfinden find out
  • stattfinden take place Not predictable
  • wiederfinden find again
  • vorfinden Coming soon to find, to encounter Shifted meaning
  • der Fund find / discovery Shifted meaning
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More A2 words

Illustration of the A2 German word “die Erfindung”, which translates to “invention”. A lightbulb hovering in mid-air, sprouting wings and gears, taking flight as it leaves a trail of sparkling blueprints in the sky.
die Erfindung

/ɛɐ̯ˈfɪndʊŋ/

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invention

Examples

Das Telefon war eine wichtige Erfindung.

The telephone was an important invention.

Diese Erfindung hat unser Leben verändert.

This invention changed our lives.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “die Feier”, which translates to “celebration, party”. A neighborhood party on a floating island where bubbles carry snacks and laughter turns into tiny, colorful confetti fireworks.
die Feier

/ˈfaɪ̯ɐ/

celebration, party

Examples

Wir gehen heute Abend zu einer Feier.

We are going to a party tonight.

Die Feier war wirklich sehr schön.

The celebration was really very nice.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “feiern”, which translates to “to celebrate”. A street scene where the buildings themselves have arms and are dancing, throwing handfuls of confetti made of starlight into the air.
feiern

/ˈfaɪ̯ɐn/

to celebrate

Principal parts

feiern, feierte, hat gefeiert

ich feiere
du feierst
er/sie/es feiert
wir feiern
ihr feiert
sie/Sie feiern

Examples

Wir haben seinen Geburtstag gefeiert.

We celebrated his birthday.

Wann wollt ihr die Party feiern?

When do you want to celebrate the party?

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Illustration of the A2 German word “das Fest”, which translates to “celebration, party, festival”. A banquet table floating in mid-air where gravity is reversed, sending confetti and cake frosting drifting upwards like magical golden snow.
das Fest

/fɛst/

celebration, party, festival

Examples

Das Fest war sehr lustig.

The party was very fun.

Wir planen ein großes Fest im Sommer.

We are planning a big celebration in summer.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “formell”, which translates to “formal”. A tuxedo-clad cat sitting at a dinner table, gracefully sipping from a teacup while floating bubbles of etiquette dance in the air.
formell

/fɔʁˈmɛl/

formal

Comparative Forms

Positive formell
Komparativ formeller
Superlativ am formellsten

Examples

Das war ein sehr formelles Treffen.

That was a very formal meeting.

Ihre Sprache klingt oft sehr formell.

Her language often sounds very formal.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “früher”, which translates to “in the past, formerly”. Looking through an ornate keyhole to see a sepia-toned version of the room, where furniture from a bygone era is still softly humming.
früher

/ˈfʁyːɐ/

in the past, formerly

Examples

Früher wohnte ich in Berlin.

In the past, I lived in Berlin.

Mein Bruder hat früher oft Fußball gespielt.

My brother often played soccer in the past.

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feminine Erfindung — invention

ErfindungFeierfeiernFestformellfrüherAll German word pages

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