German Word Family

bringen

Learn bringen once, then see how related verbs, nouns, and compounds are built from the same root.

What to watch for

Two members shift so hard that guessing them is dangerous: umbringen means to kill and verbringen means to spend time.

Prefixed verbs

  • beibringen teach B1 Not predictable

    bei + bringen

  • einbringen bring in / contribute B1

    ein + bringen

  • mitbringen to bring along A2

    mit + bringen

  • unterbringen accommodate B1 Shifted meaning

    unter + bringen

  • umbringen kill B1 Not predictable

    um + bringen

    A hard shift with real consequences: umbringen means to kill. It cannot be guessed from bringen, and confusing it with umziehen or mitbringen is a serious error.

  • verbringen to spend (time) A2 Not predictable

    ver + bringen

    Used only for time, never for money: ich verbringe den Sommer in Berlin. To spend money is ausgeben.

  • weiterbringen help progress B1

    weiter + bringen

  • zurückbringen bring back A2

    zurück + bringen

Derived noun