Before you start
Meet zuhören
Read how the verb is used, then write your own 10 sentences with it.
Build the meaning
zu- + hören
- zu-
- toward or directed at someone
- hören
- to hear
Direct your hearing toward someone as they speak.
So zuhören means to listen to.
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: zu·hören
In a main clause the prefix zu splits off and goes to the end. After weil, dass and other subordinating words, the verb stays in one piece at the end.
Main clauseBitte hör mir jetzt zu.Please listen to me now.
Subordinate clauseIch bin froh, weil du mir zuhörst.I’m glad because you listen to me.
Participle: zugehörtzu-infinitive: zuzuhören
Forms
How zuhören changes
| Pronoun | Präsens | Präteritum |
|---|---|---|
| ich | höre zu | hörte zu |
| du | hörst zu | hörtest zu |
| er/sie/es | hört zu | hörte zu |
| wir | hören zu | hörten zu |
| ihr | hört zu | hörtet zu |
| Sie | hören zu | hörten zu |
Partizip II zugehört · Perfekt with haben
Three examples
- 1Ich höre dem Mann zu.I listen to the man.prefix goes to the end
- 2Wir haben gestern dem Lehrer zugehört.We listened to the teacher yesterday.Perfekt with haben
- 3Ich weiß, dass du mir zuhörst.I know that you are listening to me.verb at the end after dass
Task 1 of 10 · Build a sentence
Build a German sentence using these words:
zuhören + die Mutter
Your challenge
- 1Use the present tense.
- 2Use die Mutter as the dative object.
Task 2 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
I listened to him yesterdaygestern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 3 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
When the teacherder Lehrer, die Lehrerin spokesprechen, the childrendas Kind, die Kinder listened to her.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 4 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She listens to him because he speaks slowlylangsam.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 5 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
The mander Mann we listened to was very friendlyfreundlich.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 6 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
You should listen to your parentsdie Eltern.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 7 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
She stayed quietruhig to listen to her friendder Freund, die Freundin.
Stuck on a word? Hover or tap an underlined word to see it in German.
Task 8 of 10 · Translate
Translate into German:
Would you listen to me for a momentder 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:
zuhören + der Arzt + obwohl
Your challenge
- 1Start with an obwohl-clause.
- 2Put its conjugated verb at the end.
- 3Use der Arzt as the person being listened to.
Task 10 of 10 · Free writing
Answer in one full German sentence:
Who do you often listen to, and why? Answer in one German sentence.
Your challenge
- 1Answer with one German sentence.
- 2Name someone you often listen to.
- 3Give a reason with a weil-clause.