Before you start
Meet anhören
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
an- + hören
- an-
- toward or into contact with something
- hören
- to hear or listen
Direct your listening toward something and attend to it.
So anhören means to listen to; to hear someone out.
A memory aid, not a rule: prefixes change meaning from verb to verb.
Learning approach inspired by this explanation in r/German.
Verb family
More verbs built on hören
Same base verb, a different prefix, a new meaning.
Separable verb: an·hören
In a main clause the prefix an splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseSie hört sich die Nachricht an.She listens to the message.
Subordinate clauseEr bleibt hier, weil er sich das Lied anhört.He stays here because he is listening to the song.
Participle: angehörtzu-infinitive: anzuhören
Forms
How anhören changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | höre an | hörte an |
| du | hörst an | hörtest an |
| er/sie/es | hört an | hörte an |
| wir | hören an | hörten an |
| ihr | hört an | hörtet an |
| Sie | hören an | hörten an |
Partizip II angehört · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich höre mir das Lied an.I listen to the song.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben uns gestern das Lied angehört.We listened to the song yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Du kannst dir die Musik anhören.You can listen to the music.infinitive after modal verb
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anhören + das Lied
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Include das Lied.
- 3Use the target verb as a separable verb.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I listened to it on the busder Bus yesterday.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When I get homezu Hause, I listen to the newsdie Nachricht, die Nachrichten.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She listened to his storydie Geschichte because she wanted to helphelfen him.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I listened to the songdas Lied that you recommendedempfehlen yesterday.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I want to listen to the newneu songdas Lied with you tonightheute Abend.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I went to my roomdas Zimmer to listen to musicdie Musik in peacein Ruhe.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Could you listen to my suggestionder Vorschlag for a momenteinen Moment?
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 9 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
anhören + das Lied + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put the verb at the end of that clause.
- 3Use the present tense and include das Lied.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
What do you like listening to on your way to work?
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one sentence about what you like listening to.
- 2Use the present tense and the target verb.