German word

glauben

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈglaʊ̯bən/

Meaning

  • verbbelieve

Example

Ich glaube dir.

I believe you.

Illustration for glauben (believe)

More examples

Ich glaube, dass er kommt.

I believe that he is coming.

Core concept

A mind treats a statement as true or a person as reliable even when proof is incomplete.

Common phrases

  • Ich glaube, dass ...

    I believe that ___

  • Ich glaube nicht, dass ...

    I do not believe that ___

Similar words

meinen: Express a personal opinion or view about something.
denken: Consider facts or information in the mind to form an idea or judgment.
vermuten: Assume that something is likely true when little evidence is available.
vertrauen: Rely on someone or accept their words and actions as dependable.

Definition in German

Etwas für richtig halten oder Vertrauen zu jemandem haben.

Word origin

Glauben is an inherited Germanic verb, recorded in Old High German as gilouben and related to the noun Glaube.

Usage tips

  • In Ich glaube dir, dir is dative for the person trusted, while an etwas glauben uses an plus accusative.

Other meanings

  • thinkverb
  • believe inverb

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word