German word

abspielen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈapʃpiːlən/

Meaning

  • verbplay

Example

Das Handy spielt das Video ab.

The phone is playing the video.

Illustration for abspielen (play)

More examples

Im Auto ließ sie die Podcast-Folge im Hintergrund abspielen.

In the car, she played the podcast episode in the background.

Core concept

Something is sent onward into action: a device plays media out, or a player passes a ball to a teammate.

Common phrases

  • Live-Stream abspielen

    play a live stream

  • ein Audiofile abspielen

    play an audio file

  • im Hintergrund abspielen

    play in the background

Similar words

spielen: To use a device to play audio or video.
streamen: To play media as it is received continuously from the internet.
wiedergeben: To produce stored audio or video for playback.
starten: To begin an operation, program, or media playback.

Definition in German

Ein Medium (Musik, Video o. Ä.) abspielen bzw. wiedergeben; im Sport einen Ball zu einem Mitspieler geben

Word origin

Abspielen combines the separable prefix ab- ('away' or 'off') with spielen ('play'), extending 'play' to media playback and passing a ball onward.

Usage tips

  • In a main clause, ab- separates: Das Handy spielt das Video ab; with a modal, it stays attached: Das Handy kann das Video abspielen.

Other meanings

  • passverb

Opposites

Related words

  • Abspielsoftwareplayback softwarenoun
  • abspielbarplayableadjective

Word lists with this word