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German vocabulary · Beginner
How do you say "to play (a sport)" in German?
spielen
In German, "to play (a sport)" is spielen.
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Pronunciation
SHPEE-len. This is the same as 'to play the drums'. Long 'i', stress on first.
Grammar notes
Regular weak verb. Past tense: spielte, past participle: gespielt. Takes the accusative object or 'mit'.
Example sentence
Wir spielen Fußball.
We play soccer.
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How to remember spielen
Spielen covers both musical performance and sports play. Context determines the meaning.
Related words
- cut schneiden
- exercise trainieren
- fly fliegen
- leave verlassen
- listen zuhören
- pull ziehen
- push schieben
- take off ausziehen
- wash waschen
Browse all German words in the glossary.
Questions about spielen
How do you say "to play (a sport)" in German?
In German, "to play (a sport)" is spielen. It is a noun.
How is spielen written in German?
spielen is written using the standard German script.
How is spielen used in a sentence?
Use spielen as you would use the equivalent noun in English. For example: Wir spielen Fußball. (We play soccer.).
Where can I practice German words for free?
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"To play (a sport)" in other languages
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