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

reißen

to tear

/ˈʁaɪ̯sn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

reißen, riss, hat gerissen

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

Practice "reißen"

Examples — reißen in a sentence

Reiß das Papier nicht!

Don't tear the paper!

Der Sturm riss den Baum um.

The storm tore down the tree.

How to remember it

To 'REISSEN' is to TEAR. It 'RISS' into pieces.

More A2 words

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/

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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.

Illustration of the B1 German word “ringen”, which translates to “to wrestle”. Two stout otters grapple chest to chest on a straw mat, legs braced and whiskers quivering, locked in a perfectly even deadlock.
ringen

/ˈʁɪŋən/

to wrestle

Principal parts

ringen, rang, hat gerungen

ich ringe
du ringst
er/sie/es ringt
wir ringen
ihr ringt
sie/Sie ringen

Examples

Er ringt mit seinen Problemen.

He wrestles with his problems.

Die beiden Athleten rangen hart um den Sieg.

The two athletes fought hard for the win.

Illustration of the B1 German word “rinnen”, which translates to “to flow, trickle”. A thin silver thread of water winds down a mossy rock face and drips into a tiny cupped leaf held by a patient snail.
rinnen

/ˈʁɪnən/

to flow, trickle

Principal parts

rinnen, rann, hat geronnen

ich rinne
du rinnst
er/sie/es rinnt
wir rinnen
ihr rinnt
sie/Sie rinnen

Examples

Das Wasser rinnt aus dem Hahn.

The water trickles from the tap.

Blut rann ihm über die Hand.

Blood ran over his hand.

Illustration of the B1 German word “die Rückzahlung”, which translates to “repayment”. A boomerang made of banknotes loops out and returns to the lender’s open wallet.
die Rückzahlung

/ˈʁʏkˌt͡saːlʊŋ/

repayment

Examples

Die Rückzahlung beginnt im Mai.

The repayment starts in May.

Wir vereinbaren eine Rückzahlung.

We agree on a repayment.

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reiten — to ride (horse)

reitenrennenriechenringenrinnenRückzahlungAll German word pages

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