German word

nähen

Pronunciation

IPA/ˈnɛːən/

Meaning

  • verbsew

Example

Letzte Woche habe ich ein Kleid genäht.

Last week I sewed a dress.

Illustration for nähen (sew)

More examples

Ich nähe einen Knopf an mein Hemd.

I sew a button onto my shirt.

Core concept

A needle and thread pass repeatedly through two edges, leaving a line of stitches that holds fabric or a wound together.

Common phrases

  • einen Knopf nähen

    sew on a button

  • zu Hause nähen

    sew at home

  • im Nähkurs nähen

    sew in a sewing class

Similar words

schneidern: Make clothing to order or shape it to fit a person's body.
flicken: Repair torn fabric or clothing with a patch or stitches.
sticken: Decorate fabric by stitching patterns or letters into it.

Definition in German

Per Hand oder mit Maschine Stiche setzen, um Stoffe, Teile oder Wunden zu verbinden.

Word origin

Nähen is inherited from Old High German nājan, and German Naht is a related noun from the same Germanic root.

Usage tips

  • Nähen means sewing, whereas nähern means approaching or bringing something closer, despite the similar spelling.

Other meanings

  • stitchverb

Opposites

  • auftrennenunstitchverb

Related words

  • der Nähertailornoun
  • der Nähkurssewing classnoun

Word lists with this word