German Conversation · Level 20
90 words
German word
meinen
Pronunciation
IPA/ˈmaɪ̯nən/
Meaning
- verbthink
Example
Ich meine, das ist richtig.
I think that's right.
More examples
Was meinen Sie dazu?
What do you think about it?
Core concept
A person points to a thought, claim, or intended message and says, "That is what I have in mind."
Common phrases
meinen, dass
think that
etwas meinen
mean something
es gut mit meinen
mean well
Similar words
denken: Think through an idea or question internally.
äußern: Put an opinion or reaction into words.
sagen: Convey information or a message through words.
glauben: Hold something to be true.
Definition in German
Eine Meinung haben oder äußern; etwas für wahr halten oder so sagen.
Word origin
The Germanic verb meinen originally covered meanings such as intending, thinking, and meaning, which explains its modern range from opinion to intended sense.
Usage tips
- With a clause, meinen commonly uses dass, as in Ich meine, dass das richtig ist; with a noun, it can mean having that person or thing in mind.