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Illustration of the B1 German word “stechen”, which translates to “to sting, stab”. A plump bumblebee facing the viewer, its curved abdomen arched down so the stinger at the very tip of its tail pricks a giant taut red balloon beneath it, a tiny spark flashing where the tail-tip meets the balloon.
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stechen is one of the B1 words in the free course — with this picture, the audio, and spaced repetition.

stechen

to sting, stab

/ˈʃtɛçn̩/

Conjugation

Principal parts

stechen, stach, hat gestochen

ich steche
du stichst
er/sie/es sticht
wir stechen
ihr stecht
sie/Sie stechen

Practice "stechen"

Examples — stechen in a sentence

Die Biene sticht.

The bee stings.

Er stach mit dem Messer in den Kuchen.

He stuck the knife into the cake.

How to remember it

STECHEN, 'stech-en' – a 'stick-in' can sting or stab you.

More B1 words

Illustration of the A2 German word “stehlen”, which translates to “to steal”. Close-up of a sly shadow peeling itself off a sleeping person and tiptoeing away carrying a glowing memory like a balloon, the thieving shadow filling the frame.
stehlen

/ˈʃteːlən/

Tap to see details

to steal

Principal parts

stehlen, stahl, hat gestohlen

ich stehle
du stiehlst
er/sie/es stiehlt
wir stehlen
ihr stehlt
sie/Sie stehlen

Examples

Man soll nicht stehlen.

You should not steal.

Er stahl das Brot.

He stole the bread.

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Illustration of the A1 German word “stellen”, which translates to “to put/place”. A squirrel stands on tiptoe on a stack of books to set a glowing crystal onto a tall pedestal, tongue poking out in absolute concentration.
stellen

/ˈʃtɛlən/

to put/place

Principal parts

stellen, stellte, hat gestellt

ich stelle
du stellst
er/sie/es stellt
wir stellen
ihr stellt
sie/Sie stellen

Examples

Ich stelle die Tasse auf den Tisch.

I put the cup on the table.

Er stellt das Auto in die Garage.

He puts the car in the garage.

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Illustration of the A2 German word “sterben”, which translates to “to die”. Close-up of a single weary leaf drifting down and turning into a bright sparkling star the instant it touches the mossy ground, the falling leaf filling the frame.
sterben

/ˈʃtɛʁbn̩/

to die

Principal parts

sterben, starb, ist gestorben

ich sterbe
du stirbst
er/sie/es stirbt
wir sterben
ihr sterbt
sie/Sie sterben

Examples

Der alte Baum ist letztes Jahr gestorben.

The old tree died last year.

Viele Blumen sterben im Winter oft.

Many flowers often die in winter.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “stoßen”, which translates to “to push”. A determined pug plants both front paws against an enormous boulder and shoves with all its might, tongue out, the boulder just beginning to tip.
stoßen

/ˈʃtoːsn̩/

to push

Principal parts

stoßen, stieß, hat gestoßen

ich stoße
du stößt
er/sie/es stößt
wir stoßen
ihr stoßt
sie/Sie stoßen

Examples

Er stößt die Tür auf.

He pushes the door open.

Sie stieß gegen den Tisch.

She bumped into the table.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “streiten”, which translates to “to argue”. Oma Trude (tiny gran, silver bun, lilac cardigan) and Professor Kauz (lanky, wild grey Einstein hair, mustard waistcoat) stand nose to nose mid-argument, both shouting, angry squiggles exploding between their mouths.
streiten

/ˈʃtʁaɪ̯tn̩/

to argue

Principal parts

streiten, stritt, hat gestritten

ich streite
du streitest
er/sie/es streitet
wir streiten
ihr streitet
sie/Sie streiten

Examples

Sie streiten sich oft.

They argue often.

Die Kinder stritten um das Spielzeug.

The children quarreled over the toy.

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Illustration of the B1 German word “die Teilnahme”, which translates to “participation”. A single hand rises in a sea of empty chairs, holding a golden "I was here" sticker aloft.
die Teilnahme

/ˈtaɪ̯lˌnaːmə/

participation

Examples

Die Teilnahme ist kostenlos.

Participation is free.

Danke für Ihre Teilnahme.

Thank you for your participation.

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stehlen — to steal

stehlenstellensterbenstoßenstreitenTeilnahmeAll German word pages

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