German word

absolvieren

Pronunciation

IPA/apzɔlˈviːʁən/

Meaning

  • verbfinish

Example

Morgen absolviere ich einen Kurs.

Tomorrow I will finish a course.

Illustration for absolvieren (finish)

More examples

Sie hat letztes Jahr den Sprachkurs absolviert.

She completed the language course last year.

Core concept

A learner reaches the official end of a course, degree program, or exam and leaves with its completion recognized.

Common phrases

  • einen Sprachkurs absolvieren

    complete a language course

  • einen Kurs absolvieren

    complete a course

Similar words

abschließen: Bring a course or process to a formal close.
beenden: Cause an activity or job to come to an end.
fertig sein: Be done with a task and have nothing remaining.

Definition in German

Einen Kurs, ein Studium oder eine Prüfung erfolgreich beenden und dafür die vorgesehene Bescheinigung erhalten.

Word origin

German absolvieren comes from Latin absolvere, meaning to complete or release, through later scholarly Latin usage.

Usage tips

  • Absolvieren is more formal than finish and commonly takes an accusative object, as in einen Kurs absolvieren.

Other meanings

  • graduateverb

Opposites

Word lists with this word