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Illustration of the B1 German word “schleifen”, which translates to “to sharpen”. A badger in a leather apron presses a blade against a spinning grindstone, a fountain of orange sparks arcing over his shoulder, eyes narrowed against the glare.
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schleifen is one of the B1 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

schleifen

to sharpen

/ˈʃlaɪ̯fn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

schleifen, schliff, hat geschliffen

ich schleife
du schleifst
er/sie/es schleift
wir schleifen
ihr schleift
sie/Sie schleifen

Practice "schleifen"

Examples — schleifen in a sentence

Der Koch schleift das Messer.

The cook sharpens the knife.

Er schliff seine Fähigkeiten.

He honed his skills.

How to remember it

SCHLEIFEN, 'schly-fen' – you SLIP on ice, then you might need to sharpen your skates.

More B1 words

Illustration of the A1 German word “schließen”, which translates to “to close”. A tiny robot strains with both arms to push shut a colossal iron gate, sparks flying, gears grinding.
schließen

/ˈʃliːsn̩/

Tap to see details

to close

Principal parts

schließen, schloss, hat geschlossen

ich schließe
du schließt
er/sie/es schließt
wir schließen
ihr schließt
sie/Sie schließen

Examples

Bitte schließen Sie die Tür.

Please close the door.

Der Laden schließt um sechs Uhr.

The store closes at six o'clock.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “schlingen”, which translates to “to wrap, gobble”. A friendly plump snake with big round eyes and a bright red bow tie, coiled in a cheerful spiral around a giant strawberry and hugging it tight, tongue poking out as it gets ready to gobble it whole.
schlingen

/ˈʃlɪŋən/

to wrap, gobble

Principal parts

schlingen, schlang, hat geschlungen

ich schlinge
du schlingst
er/sie/es schlingt
wir schlingen
ihr schlingt
sie/Sie schlingen

Examples

Die Schlange schlingt sich um den Ast.

The snake winds itself around the branch.

Er schlang das Essen in sich hinein.

He gulped down the food.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “der Schluss”, which translates to “end / conclusion”. A giant red curtain sweeps closed on an empty stage as a single spotlight shrinks to a dot.
der Schluss

/ʃlʊs/

end / conclusion

Examples

Am Schluss waren alle müde.

At the end everyone was tired.

Jetzt ist aber Schluss!

That's enough now!

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Illustration of the B1 German word “schmeißen”, which translates to “to throw”. A big cheerful gorilla fills the frame in bright daylight, arm swung forward, a huge red armchair just released from its hand and flying up and away, its face wide with the effort of one great throw.
schmeißen

/ˈʃmaɪ̯sn̩/

to throw

Principal parts

schmeißen, schmiss, hat geschmissen

ich schmeiße
du schmeißt
er/sie/es schmeißt
wir schmeißen
ihr schmeißt
sie/Sie schmeißen

Examples

Er schmeißt den Ball.

He throws the ball.

Sie schmiss die Tür zu.

She slammed the door shut.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “schmelzen”, which translates to “to melt”. A dismayed snowman slumps in a puddle of himself under a blazing sun, one stick arm drooping, carrot nose sliding off his sagging melting face.
schmelzen

/ˈʃmɛlt͡sn̩/

to melt

Principal parts

schmelzen, schmolz, ist geschmolzen

ich schmelze
du schmilzt
er/sie/es schmilzt
wir schmelzen
ihr schmelzt
sie/Sie schmelzen

Examples

Das Eis schmilzt in der Sonne.

The ice melts in the sun.

Die Butter schmolz in der Pfanne.

The butter melted in the pan.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “schneiden”, which translates to “to cut”. A tiny tailor mouse in a thimble helmet strains with both paws on giant scissors, snipping clean through a thick ship's rope, eyes squeezed shut in fierce effort as the severed ends spring apart.
schneiden

/ˈʃnaɪ̯dn̩/

to cut

Principal parts

schneiden, schnitt, hat geschnitten

ich schneide
du schneidest
er/sie/es schneidet
wir schneiden
ihr schneidet
sie/Sie schneiden

Examples

Ich schneide Brot.

I'm cutting bread.

Sie schnitt sich in den Finger.

She cut her finger.

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schließen — to close

schließenschlingenSchlussschmeißenschmelzenschneidenAll German word pages

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