Illustration of the A2 German word “raten”, which translates to “to advise, guess”. A puzzled bear scratches its head before three identical closed boxes, finger hovering uncertainly, trying to guess which one hides the prize.
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raten is one of the A2 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

raten

to advise, guess

/ˈʁaːtn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

raten, riet, hat geraten

ich rate
du rätst
er/sie/es rät
wir raten
ihr ratet
sie/Sie raten

Practice "raten"

Examples — raten in a sentence

Ich rate dir, vorsichtig zu sein.

I advise you to be careful.

Er riet ihr zur Geduld.

He advised her to be patient.

How to remember it

To 'RATEN' (advise/guess) is like getting a 'RIET' (read) on the situation.

More A2 words

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Ratenzahlung”, which translates to “installment payment”. A big coin is sliced into a row of equal wedges, one wedge floating off each month past a calendar.
die Ratenzahlung

/ˈʁaːtn̩ˌt͡saːlʊŋ/

Tap to see details

installment payment

Examples

Ich zahle per Ratenzahlung.

I pay in installments.

Ratenzahlung ist hier möglich.

Payment in installments is possible here.

Illustration of the A2 German word “reiben”, which translates to “to rub”. A sleepy koala vigorously rubs its tired eyes with both fuzzy paws, cheeks scrunched, little motion-blur lines showing the furious rubbing.
reiben

/ˈʁaɪ̯bn̩/

to rub

Principal parts

reiben, rieb, hat gerieben

ich reibe
du reibst
er/sie/es reibt
wir reiben
ihr reibt
sie/Sie reiben

Examples

Ich reibe mir die Augen.

I rub my eyes.

Sie rieb die Stelle sauber.

She rubbed the spot clean.

Illustration of the A2 German word “reißen”, which translates to “to tear”. A fierce little terrier yanks a thick rope clean in two with a mighty tug, tumbling backward as it tears apart, ears flying.
reißen

/ˈʁaɪ̯sn̩/

to tear

Principal parts

reißen, riss, hat gerissen

ich reiße
du reißt
er/sie/es reißt
wir reißen
ihr reißt
sie/Sie reißen

Examples

Reiß das Papier nicht!

Don't tear the paper!

Der Sturm riss den Baum um.

The storm tore down the tree.

Illustration of the A2 German word “reiten”, which translates to “to ride (horse)”. A tiny frog in riding boots posts up and down on the back of a galloping carthorse, gripping the mane with both webbed hands, cheeks puffed in fierce concentration.
reiten

/ˈʁaɪ̯tn̩/

to ride (horse)

Principal parts

reiten, ritt, hat geritten

ich reite
du reitest
er/sie/es reitet
wir reiten
ihr reitet
sie/Sie reiten

Examples

Er kann gut reiten.

He can ride well.

Sie ritt durch den Wald.

She rode through the forest.

Illustration of the A2 German word “rennen”, which translates to “to run”. A blazing-fast cheetah sprints flat out, legs a total blur and tongue flapping, kicking up a trail of dust and zooming motion-lines.
rennen

/ˈʁɛnən/

to run

Principal parts

rennen, rannte, ist gerannt

ich renne
du rennst
er/sie/es rennt
wir rennen
ihr rennt
sie/Sie rennen

Examples

Der Läufer rennt schnell.

The runner runs fast.

Ich rannte zum Bahnhof.

I ran to the station.

Illustration of the A2 German word “riechen”, which translates to “to smell”. A tiny mouse stands on tiptoe with its nose pressed to a giant steaming wheel of cheese, eyes shut in bliss as curling scent-ribbons swirl up its nose.
riechen

/ˈʁiːçn̩/

to smell

Principal parts

riechen, roch, hat gerochen

ich rieche
du riechst
er/sie/es riecht
wir riechen
ihr riecht
sie/Sie riechen

Examples

Hier riecht es gut.

It smells good here.

Die Rose roch wunderbar.

The rose smelled wonderful.

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feminine Ratenzahlung — installment payment

RatenzahlungreibenreißenreitenrennenriechenAll German word pages

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